the beaver dives to the bottom carrying with him 

 a green stick which he thrusts into the mud and 

 it is thus anchored. Apparently the method is a 

 simple one. The green wood stored is almost as 

 heavy as water, and once in the pond it becomes 

 water-logged and sinks in a short time; however, 

 the first pieces stored are commonly large, heavy 

 chunks, which are forced to the bottom by piling 

 others on top of them. Frequently the first few 

 pieces of the food-pile consist of entire trees, limbs 

 and all. These usually are placed in a rude circle 

 with butts inward and tops outward. This forms 

 an entangling foundation which holds in place the 

 smaller stuff piled thereon. 



Most willows by beaver colonies are small and 

 comparatively light. These do not sink readily, 

 are not easily managed, and are rarely used in 

 the bottom of the pile. Commonly, when these 

 light cuttings are gathered into the food-pile, they 

 are laid on top, where numerous up -thrusting 

 limbs entangle and hold them. The foundation 

 and larger portion of the food-pile are formed of 

 heavy pieces of aspen, alder, or some other stream- 

 side tree, which cannot be moved out of place by 



13 



