Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-12-12
The Beaver Colony in Butte.

The Rothesay (Eng.) Chronicle says:
{" The colony of beavers which Lord
Butte hasacclimatized at Drumreoch moor
are thoroughly at home. There are now
sixteen within the enclosure, and all are
doing we'll. Their work is visited by a
large number of ladies and gentlemen
interested in natural history and curious
about Lord Bute's experiment. Since
May 81 upward of 500 persons, some
from a considerable distance, have visited
the "home" in company with the intel
ligent keeper; and many others, have
taken a peep at the beavers work from
outside the fence. These animals are
only seen at night, and are extremely
cautious in making their appearance.
All their houses and burrows are ap-
preached from under the water, and
there is no trace, with the exception Of
their visible work, to tell that any ami
mails are about the stream, and, if any,
what kind. Before the beavers make
their appearance of an evening, one of
their number comes out, swims about
for some time, then slowly spies and
snuf1s all round, and if nothing is seen
or heard of an enemy or human spy, the
scout returns, and in few seconds the
capaciOus dam presents an animated ap.
pearance, after. which all go about their
work in a regular way, and take their
directions from leader. If, on the con.
trary, the scout smells or sees danger o,
human being on the watch, he makes q
furious swim about the pond, gives the
water q skelp with his tail, disappears un
der, and none are in hurry to appear that
evening again. The beavers have felled
a score or two of large trees, and al
either cross or point to the stream, ex.
cept one or two that gale from an un.
expected direction blew down otherwise
There are four or five dams, the frs
formed the largest, near the end of tn,
burn through the enclosure, is bull
seven feet high, and is capital piece o.
engineering. A close inspection reveals
the fact that the fullest advantage i
taken of any peculiar formation of tn
branches used in the construction, an<
everything is put in the best possible
position. The work also shows how tn,
beaver had begun to makea dam withou
discovering drain, and how they after
ward turned the new circumstance tt
account without multiplying the worl
they had been at. The animals are par
tial to willows for food, but as none hap
pen to grow within tho enclosure they
are daily supplied by the keeper. The!
also feed OH the inner lining of the bari
of the trees within their reach, and a
the beavers do not climb, they cut dowl
the trees in order to finish what they
begin. They are also beginning to ca
brackens, termental root, and in fact
accommodating themselves to the pro
ducts Of the enclosure. They are no fish
eaters, as is proved by the increase of tn
.. trout in their burn. The beavers hous
, is substantial erection nine feet high
but as it is built in the side of dan
there is much of it covered with waite,
J This house and all its burrows are wei
r ventilated. In the case of this hous
= there is hole on the top filled wit
sticks; and in the case of the burrow
, holes are pierced up to the surface an
. filed with the same material,