COMMON BEAVER. %&r 
the greatness of the work, with the powers of the 
architect, it will appear enormous ; but the soli- 
dity with which it is built is still more astonishing 
than its size. The part of the river over which 
this clam is usually built, is where it is most shal- 
low, and where some great tree is found growing 
by the side of the stream. This they pitch upon 
as proper for making the principal part in their 
building ; and, although it is often thicker than 
a man's body, they instantly set about cutting it 
down. For this operation they have no other in- 
strument but their teeth, which soon lay it level, 
and that also on the side they wish it to fall, which 
is always across the stream. They then fall about 
cuttingfoff the top branches, to make it lie close 
and even, and serve as the principal beam of their 
fabric. 
This dike, or causey, is sometimes ten, and 
sometimes twelve feet thick at the foundation. It 
descends in a declivity, or slope, on that side next 
the water, which gravitates upon the work in pro- 
portion to the height, and presses it with a pro- 
digious force towards the earth. The opposite 
side is erected perpendicular, like our walls ; and 
that declivity, which, at the bottom, or basis, is 
about twelve feet broad, diminishes towards the 
top, where it is no more than two feet broad, or 
thereabouts. The materials whereof this mole 
consists, are wood and clay. The beavers cut, 
with surprising ease, large pieces of wood, some as 
think as one's arm or thigh, and about four, five,* 
or six feet in length, or sometimes more, according 
as the slope ascends. They drive one end of these 
stakes into the ground^ at a small distance one 
from the other, intermingling a few with them 
that are smaller and more pliant. As the water 
however, would find a passage through the inter- 
vals or spaces between them, and leave the resej> 
VOL, II, E 
