friend 



they have lost caste by persistently damming an 

 irrigation-ditch and diverting the water, despite 

 the fact that a court has given both the title and 

 the right to this water to some one else a mile 

 or so down the ditch. 



In all logging operations, beaver never fail 

 where there is opportunity to cut trees up- 

 stream and float them down with the current. 

 Tree-cutting is an interesting phase of beaver 

 life. A beaver will go waddling dully from the 

 water to a tree he is about to cut down. All will 

 look about for enemies; one may be wise enough 

 but the majority will not do so to look up- 

 ward to see if the tree about to be felled is en- 

 tangled at the top. All appear to choose a com- 

 fortable place on which to squat or sit while 

 cutting. 



Commonly when the tree begins to creak and 

 settle, the beaver who has done the cutting thuds 

 the ground a few times with his tail, and then 

 scampers away, usually going into the water. 

 Sometimes the near-by workers give the thudding 

 signal in advance of the one who is doing the 

 cutting. Now and then no warning signal is given, 



