e being towards the upper part of
the stream. The materials employed are drift wood, green willows,
birch, and poplar; these are placed horizontally, and kept down by mud
and stones. So strong do these dams become, that they are capable of
resisting a considerable force both of water and ice; for generally the
wood, taking root, shoots upwards, and forms ultimately a thick hedge.
In some cases even trees sprout up, in the branches of which the birds
form their nests.

Beavers build their houses of the same materials as their dams, and of
various sizes, according to the number of the inmates. These, however,
do not often exceed four or eight old ones, and from six to fourteen
young ones. The houses are of a circular form, elevated some feet above
the surface of the water; but the entrance is always low down beneath
it. They are more rudely constructed than the dams, too. The wood is
laid nearly horizontally, and crosswise; the branches, which project
inwards, they cut off with their teeth. First there is a layer of wood,
and then one of mud and stones; and so they work on till a sufficient
height is gained, when the roof, of rough branches, is placed on the
top, and plastered down with mud and stones.

Such was the interesting account which Quambo gave us as we walked
along.

No event worthy of description occurred during our walk, though it took
us some hours to reach the spot for which I was directing our course.

I was not disappointed. As we approached it cautiously, we caught sight
of several beavers running about on the banks of the stream, some
nibbling away at the trunks of saplings and small trees which they were
engaged in felling. Had we fired, we might have killed two or three;
but the rest would have disappeared, and we should then have lost the
opportunity of observing them. We therefore crept on, concealing
ourselves among the thick underwood.

At length I was afraid, should we get closer, that we might make some
noise and alarm the animals. I therefore made a sign to my companions
to stop; and looking down, we could discern one of the dams I have
spoken of carried across the stream from one side to the other, and
apparently not quite finished. Though several beavers were running
about it, they were not at work; indeed, all their operations are
carried on during darkness. Nature, of course, has given them the
instinct to work at this time, which saves them the destruction that
would othe