278 
BEAVER. 
tion to its elevation, gravitates upon the work, and 
presses it with a strong tendency towards the earth. 
The opposite side is raised perpendicular like our 
walls, and the slope, which at its basis is twelve 
feet broad, diminishes towards the top, whose 
breadth does not exceed two feet. The materials 
of this work are wood and clay. The beavers, with 
an admirable facility, cut the pieces of wood, some 
as thick as one’s arm, others as large as one’s thigh, 
and from two, to four, five, or six feet in length, 
and sometimes more, in proportion to the ascent of 
the slope. They drive the extremity of these very 
near each other into the earth, and take care to 
interlace them with other stakes more slender and 
supple. But as the water, without some other pre- 
vention, would glide through the cavities and leave 
the reservoir dry, they have recourse to a clay, which 
they perfectly know how to procure, and with which 
they close up all the interstices both within and 
without, and this effectually prevents the water 
from oozing through. They continue to raise the 
dike in proportion to the water’s elevation and 
plenty. They are likewise very sensible that their 
materials are not so easily transported by land as 
by water, and therefore take the opportunity of its 
increase to swim with mortar placed on their tail and 
stakes of wood between their teeth, to every place 
where they have occasion for these materials. If the 
violence of the water, or the footsteps of hunters 
who pass over their work, damage it in any degree, 
they immediately repair the fracture, visit all the 
