T^ifb Btfe on t^t (Rocaies 



which will prevent the winter enemies of the 

 beaver from breaking into the house. 



Each autumn beaver pile up near by the 

 house, a large brush-heap of green trunks and 

 limbs, mostly of aspen, willow, cottonwood, or 

 alder. This is their granary, and during the win- 

 ter they feed upon the green bark, supplement- 

 ing this with the roots of water-plants, which they 

 drag from the bottom of the pond. 



Along in May five baby beaver appear, and 

 a little later these explore the pond and race, 

 wrestle, and splash water in it as merrily as boys. 

 Occasionally they sun themselves on a fallen 

 log, or play together there, trying to push one 

 another off into the water. Often they play in 

 the canals that lead between ponds or from them, 

 or on the " slides." Toward the close of sum- 

 mer, they have their lessons in cutting and dam- 

 building. 



A beaver appears awkward as he works on 

 land. In use of arms and hands he reminds 

 one of a monkey, while his clumsy and usually 

 slow-moving body will often suggest the hippo- 

 potamus. By using head, hands, teeth, tail, and 



58 



