The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-08-26
ST JOHNSBuRY, VT, SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 1854


that 1t will not freeze to the bottom, and
SO that he can communicate with his food and
his dam, in case Of any accidents to the latter
requiring repairs. But how does he kecy
his food-which has been floated down to hi.
pond-from floating, when in it,and thus be.
coming frozen in with the ice? said tha,
IN .nawng down tree the top OF the stump
was left pointed like crayon; the fallen tree
has the same iorm-tor the beaver cuts like
woodulan, wide at the surface and meet
ING in an angle in the centre, with this dis
tIncton-thc four-leggcd animal does hi.
work more uniformly, cutting equally all a.
round the lo5-whilc the two two-lcgged ones
cut only from two opposite sides
Thus every stick of provcnlcr cut by the
animal is pointed at both ends, and when
brought opposite his dwelling he thru>ts tn,
pointed ends into the mud bottom o, his pond
sufficiently firm to prevent their beng float
ed out. at the same time placing them in a
position in which the water has the least lii
upon them, while he carefully apportions hi.
different lengths of timber to the different
depths of water in his pond, so that the uppc,
point OF none OF them shall approach ncar
enough to the surface to be caught by tn,
Winter ice
/ When the family are in comfortable cir
cumstanccs, the Winter supply nicely cut and
stored away, the dam tight, and no indca-
tons Of a wolverine in The neehborhood. the
patrlarc! OF the hut takes cut the youthful
.rccnhorns to give them lessons in topo-
graphical engineering; and in order to try
the !u!l strength Of thtir tails encourages til, m
10 indulge i'll amateur danmin.. The bca-
yer works always ly night and TO work like
\ beaver is a 81 gnl!iccnt tenn for a man who
not only works carnc>tnrlv y and understand
ingly-bHt one who works late and early.
From wha, has been sad, it will readily be
seen that the maintainancc of the dam is 4
matter OF vital importance to the beaver
Some say that the pilot beaver sleeps with his
tail in the water. in order to be warned of
the first mi>hap to the dam; but as there is
no foundation for such a cool assertion, it
may be set down as a very improbable tale
The Indians avail themselves of this we'll
known Solicitudc to catch them: having hrok-
en- the dam, the risk is immediately percciv-
ed by the lowering of the water in the hut,
and the beaver sallying sorth to repair the
breach. are slaushtcrc! in the trenches.
AS the supply of food in the vicinity of the
dam becomes diminished the beaver is obliged
to 90 higher ny the stream, and more distant
from lis banks. to procure his Winter stores
and this necessity gives rise to fresh displays
of his lUmhcrnr and engineering resources
In consequence OF :lc distance and the lin
tied duration of the hi.h water period favor
able to transport, The wood is collected INTO
a sort of raft. which. lumhcrman asserts. is
manned hy the beaver and >tccrcd hv their
tails, in the same manner as Norway rats are
known to cross streams When the raft
grounds. forthwith a temporary dam is thrown
across the stream below the lam" hv which
Ike waters are raised and the raft noatcd of.
and brought down to the dam, which is then
torn suddenly away, and the small raft there
by flashed over the adioinin. shadows.