THE BEAVER. 
249 
The Beaver is essentially an aquatic mammal, never walking 
when it can swim, and seldom appearing quite at its ease upon 
dry land. It therefore makes its houses close to the water, and 
communicating with it by means of subterranean passages, one 
entrance of which passes into the house or ‘lodge/ as it is 
technically named, and the other into the water, so far below 
the surface that it cannot be closed by ice. It is, therefore, 
always possible for the Beaver to gain access to the provision 
stores, and to return to its house, without being seen from the 
land. 
The lodges are nearly circular in form, and much resemble 
the well-known snow houses of the Esquimaux, being domed, 
and about half as high as they are wide, the average height 
being three feet and the diameter six or seven feet. These are 
the interior dimensions, the exterior measurement being much 
greater, on account of the great thickness of the walls, which 
are continually strengthened with mud and branches, so that, 
during the severe frosts, they are nearly as hard as solid stone. 
Each lodge will accommodate several inhabitants, whose beds 
are arranged round the walls. 
All these precautions are, however, useless against the prac- 
tised skill of the trappers. Even in winter time the Beavers are 
not safe. The hunters strike the ice smartly, and judge by the 
sound whether they are near an aperture. As soon as they are 
satisfied, they cut away the ice and stop up the opening, so 
that if the Beavers should be alarmed, they cannot escape into 
the water. They then proceed to the shore, and by repeated 
soundings, trace the course of the Beavers’ subterranean pas- 
sage, which is sometimes eight or ten yards in length, and by 
watching the various apertures are sure to catch the inhabitants. 
This is not a favourite task with the hunters, and is never under- 
taken as long as they can find any other employment, for the 
work is very severe, the hardships are great, and the price which 
they obtain for the skins is now very small. 
While they are thus engaged, they must be very careful not 
to spill any blood, as if they do so, the rest of the Beavers take 
alarm, retreat to the water, and cannot be captured. They also 
