on 



comparatively even flow of water would be main- 

 tained in the rivers every day of the year. 



A number of beaver establishing a colony 

 made one of the most interesting exhibitions 

 of constructive work that I have ever watched. 

 The work went on for several weeks, and I spent 

 hours and days in observing operations. My hid- 

 ing-place on a granite crag allowed me a good 

 view of the work, the cutting and transporta- 

 tion of the little logs, the dam-building, and the 

 house-raising. I was close to the trees that were 

 felled. Occasionally, during the construction 

 work of this colony, I saw several beaver at one 

 time cutting trees near one another. Upon one 

 occasion, one was squatted on a fallen tree, an- 

 other on the limb of a live one, and a third upon 

 a boulder, each busy cutting down his tree. In 

 every case, the tail was used for a combination stool 

 and brace. While cutting, the beaver sat upright 

 and clasped the willow with fore paws or put his 

 hands against the tree, usually tilting his head to 

 one side. The average diameter of the trees cut 

 was about four inches, and a tree of this size was 

 cut down quickly and without a pause 



54 



