The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-02-22
Wonderful Instinct Of the Beaver.

teresting than the habits of the beaver,
aud especially his construction of his
dwelling place This creature is called an
amphibious animal, living as it does on
land and water as well. Its average
length is from two to three feet, having u
thick, heavy body, and fat, broad tail
covered with scales. This tail is used as
a rudder to steer by when under water,
and in building, as a mason uses troWel,
which in shape it somewhat resembles.
Were you to examine the feet of the bea-
yer, you would find membranes between
the toes of the hind feet, none on the fore
feet, which assists him, no doubt, in his
peculiar kind of work.
During the months of June and July
the beavers assemble in great numbers
from all quarters for the purpose Of uniting
into society, sometimes forming a troop
Of from two to three hundred, for the pur.
pose of building a city After they have
thus assembled, they 60 about with all the
foresight Of the shrewdest land speculator
to find suitable place for settlement,
which is always upon the bank Of river.
II at the place they have selected the
waters are fat, the beaver never makes a
dam, but if the stream is subject to rising
or falling, they build dam from one side
of the river to the other, often extending
over distance of from eighty to one hun
dred feet, and ten or twelve broad at its
base. This pile, for creatures so small, is
almost incredible. But the substantial
manner in which they build their work
is greater subject Of wonder.
If they find large tree on the margin
of the river which they believe would be
made to fall across it, they proceed at once
to cut it down. And how do you think
they accomplish this +? By gnawing at
the bottom with their four cutting. teeth,
and in an incredibly short time they ac.
complish their purpose, even though it
may be as large as q mans body And
what is most singular, they always gnaw
it in such way as to make it fall across,
or so that they can float it to the spot
where they intend to fix their abode.
They next gnaw off the branches to make
it lie level, and in doing this the teeth Of
the whole community are in request
What lesson these creatures in the lower
orders Of life teach us reasoning beings
in the service they render each other
Some hunt the banks of the river for small
trees, which they cut down, and make
stakes of them, dragging them by land to
the margin Of the river, and after getting
them well afoat, jump on themselves aud
tow them down to the place of theiI
destination. You have no idea of the
difficulties they have to surmount in doing
this Some of the beavers must elevate
the thick ends against the margin of the
river, while others, under water, are dig
ging holes in the bottom with their fore
feet to receive their sharp ends, Other.
bring earth in their mouths or fore feet
which they use to fll up the spaces be-
tween the stakes, and beat firm with theil
tails They usually place these stakes il
rows, opposite each other, and Of eqna
height, too
After the dam is completed-which i.
the common property of the community
as it has been built by the united effortl
of all-they separate into smaller societies
and build their private residences Thes,
are arranged with two openings, one over
looking the water from which they car
get the cool air and occasionally bath
the other overlooking the land. They are
in form either round or oval and vary il
size all the way from four to ten feet in
diameter. Some Of them consist of three
or four stories The walls are about two
feet thick and are raised perpsndicularly
upon plain stakes, which serve for foun
dation and floors. The roof is conical
and the whole is plastered inside and
out in neat, strong and durable manner
with mixture of mud, clay and sand
which this ingenious little creature knows
well how to mix aud temper with his paw:
or feet, and use with great deal of dex
terity with his trowel shaped tail, for which
he certainly ought to have an exclusive
patent Can you believe that these crea.
lures could build house SO strong and 50
snug as to be perfectly impervious to the
most pelting storms, putting them at de-
hance? While they are building, as soon
as any part of the material is placed where
It Is to go, they turn around and give it q
sharp blow with their tail This work is
all performed at night and with great ra.
pidity. Iu the autumn they cover the
outside of their dwelling with mud, and
after frost comes, it freezes and becomes
as hard as stone.
The beavers store their bark for food ia
their houses, just as the farmer does his
corn, each apartment having its own store.
house, so that they shall not intrude upon
each others rights. They exhibit great
sagacity in the choice of their wood, pre-.
ferriug the poplar or willow, both on nc.
count Of the lightness Of the wood and the
sweetness of the bark. United 10 com.
mon labor they are very industrious and
very peaceable, having great aversion to
a quarrel Of any sort. They rear their
families about the last of February, and
while the mothers are engaged looking
after the young, the males are rowing about
in search of food. They return once in a
while to look in upon their families, until
they can take care of themselves; then
spend the spring months in the woods
until the season returns to rebuild and, II
necessary, to enlarge their dwellings ior
the winters occupancy.
They have wonderful way of giving
Information at the approach Of danger.
The first beaver that sees ii informs the
Others by slapping the water with its tail
which Is aticcys a signal of danger, aud
which the rest are very quick to recognize
-Neio FORK Observer.
Keep 1t to Yourself.
You hava ,ronhto ,,o,,- r. 1t.