valuable fur to his stock on hand. To him, this small event, or one
like it, as for instance, a fresh footprint, with its neatly defined
claw-tracks, as moulded in the moistened earth or sand, was of
a greater importance than the wonderful and striking workmanship
exhibited in a dam; for, the latter might be old and deserted,
whereas, the former was too recent to cause him to be deceived with
such a sign; and in such a vicinity, he hesitated not to set his trap.

An idea prevails which ought to be exploded. It is boldly asserted
that the beaver builds his dam for the purpose of having a nice
swimming pond in the neighborhood of his residence, which is always
located in the river's bank. This is not true; for, in every stream
which he inhabits, if this was his sole object, he could select many
natural places where the water is without a ripple and where it is
both deep and broad. The animal has a wiser object in view; and, it
consists in providing against the pinching wants of hunger during
winter, when nearly everything green has lost its sap and nutrition,
and is, as a body, without blood and animation. He therefore chooses a
place favorable for obtaining food, and also where his labors will be
assisted by natural formations or accidents in the river's course and
construction. Having pitched upon the right section to build, he
sets to work with his fellows and falls giant trees. In this he again
exhibits his wonderful instinct; for, while one party is cutting
with their sharp teeth the hard wood of one side of the tree, another
division is actively employed on the other side, never forgetting to
make, like unto the woodman, the lowest incision on the side the tree
is to fall, which, to suit their purposes, is always directly into and
across the stream. When a tree is thus fallen, it is attacked in its
branches, which are so turned and woven together in the outline of the
dam as to catch in their meshes any floating material, or receive the