quick to take advantage of opportunity, quick to 

 adjust themselves to new conditions, or to use the 

 best means that is available. Beaver probably 

 have made numbers of changes in their manners, 

 habits, and customs, and those changes undoubt- 

 edly have enabled them to survive relentless pur- 

 suit, and to leave descendants upon the earth. 



The industry of the beaver is proverbial, and it 

 is to the credit of any person to have the dis- 

 tinction of working " like a beaver." Most people 

 have the idea that the beaver is always at work; 

 not that he necessarily accomplishes much at this 

 work, but that he is always doing something. The 

 fact remains that under normal conditions he 

 works less than half the time, and it is not un- 

 common for him to spend a large share of each 

 year in what might be called play. He is physic- 

 ally capable of intense and prolonged application, 

 and, being an intelligent worker, even though he 

 works less than half the time he accomplishes 

 large results. 



