of 



that are next to be harvested. The dams are 

 made of sticks, small trees, sods, mud, stones, 

 coal, grass, roots, that is, combinations of 

 these. The same may be said of the houses. 

 For either house or dam the most convenient 

 material is likely to be used. But this is not 

 always the case; for the situation of the house, 

 or what the dam may have to endure, evidently 

 is sometimes considered, and apparently that 

 kind of material is used that will best meet all 

 the requirements. 



Most beaver dams are so situated that they 

 are destined earlier or later to accumulate sedi- 

 ment, trash, and fallen leaves, and become 

 earthy; then they will, of course, be planted by 

 Nature with grass, shrubby willows, and even 

 trees. I have seen many trees with birds' nests 

 in them standing on a beaver dam; yet the 

 original dam had been composed almost entirely 

 of sticks or stones. 



Why do beavers want or need ponds? They 

 have very heavy bodies and extremely short 

 legs. On land they are slow and awkward and 

 in the greatest danger from their enemies, 



34 



