THE BEAVER. 129 



by a wonderful provision of Nature its instinct enables it to 

 produce them by its own exertions. Where it can find rivers, 

 brooks, and swampy lakes which maintain an even level 

 throughout the year, the beaver has a tolerably idle life ; but 

 as in most districts the levels of rivers and lakes are apt to 

 sink at various seasons if left to themselves, — whenever 

 an emigrant party of beavers have fixed on a new locality, 

 they set to work to dam up the stream or outlet of the lake, 

 to prevent a catastrophe which might bring ruin and destruc- 

 tion on their new colony. In Nova Scotia, as well as in 

 other parts of North America, large level spaces are found 

 covered with a rich alluvial soil, from which spring up waving 

 lields of wild grass. From this the human settler draws an 

 abundant supply of hay for his stock in winter, and ought to 

 feel deeply indebted to the persevering beaver for the boon. 

 They are known as " wild meadows," and are of frequent 

 occurrence in the backwoods. It is evident that they were 

 formed by the following process : — They are found in valleys 

 through which, in ages past, a brook trickled. A party of 

 beavers arriving, and finding an abundance of food on the 

 side of the hills, would set to work to form a dam of sufficient 

 strength to keep back the stream, till a pond was created, on 

 the edge of which they might Ijuild their dome-shaped habita- 

 tions. Extensive spaces in the woods were thus inundated, 

 and the colony of beavers lived for long years on the banks 

 of their artificial lakes. They, however, lacking foie thought, 

 like many hun^an beings, did not sufficiently look to the 

 future. In process of time the trees, being destroyed, deca^^ed 

 and feJl ; while the soil, washed down from the surrounding 

 hills, filled up the pond constructed by the industrious 

 animals, and tliey were compelled to migrate to some other 



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