3-009-080 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Beavers cutting down trees [in London Zoo], 1862. 'The beaver...commenced to bite off the bark about twelve inches above the ground...The rapid progress he made was...most astonishing; the animal laboured hard, and appeared to exert his whole strength, leaving off for a few minutes apparently to rest and look upwards, as though to consider which way the tree would fall...The wood by this time was reduced in the centre to about two inches in diameter. To this portion he applied his teeth with great earnestness, and in ten minutes afterwards the limb fell suddenly with great force to the ground. It was an interesting sight to witness...the nimble movement of the animal...evidently to avoid being crushed...It was impossible to witness the actions of this animal without being struck by the amount of skill and intelligence exhibited...Again and again he left off gnawing, and standing upright on his hind legs, looking upwards, then, resting his front feet on the upper part as though feeling it was on the move, showed clearly that the creature know exactly what he was about'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.