In Beaver-Land 159 



had dried, the repairs on the dam would not 

 be noticed. 



Several times that night we heard the crash 

 of falling trees and as stray logs occasionally 

 floated down and lodged against the dam, we 

 concluded that quite a gang were engaged in 

 wood-cutting further up the lake. 



After we had descended the old pine and 

 returned to camp, the guide told me many 

 interesting things about the beaver. 



The beaver seems to be a very social fellow, 

 living in communities. His family life also 

 seems to be very pleasant, for sometimes there 

 will be fifteen or even twenty beavers living 

 in the very largest lodges. 



A family always comprises the old beavers, 

 the babies, the yearlings, and the two year 

 olds, but when they reach that age they are 

 shoved out into the world to make room for 

 the new babies. But this home-leaving is 

 probably no hardship for them, for the mating 

 instinct is by that time asserting itself, and 

 they seek out mates and make homes for 

 themselves. 



