THE BEAVER. 
209 
repair, become so firm, from the consolida- 
tion of the materials, as to require great exer- 
tion and the use of the ice-chisel or other iron 
^inplements to he broken open. This is a la- 
i*orious undertaking, for the tops of the houses 
^I'e generally from four to six feet thick at 
the apex of the cone ; and Hearne relates that 
he saw one instance ’in which the crown or 
*'oof of the hut was more than eight feet in 
thickness. The door or hole leading into the 
heaver-hut is always on the side farthest from 
the land, and near the foundation of the house, 
at a considerable depth under water. This 
the only opening into the hut, which is not 
divided into chambers. 
All the beavers of a community do not co- 
'^perate in the building of houses for the com- 
use of the whole. Those that are to live 
tjigether in the same hut assist in its construc- 
; and the only work in which they seem 
have a joint interest, and at which they 
VOL. II. p 
