Out 



work at once. But after the tree has been felled, 

 ofttimes three or four beaver will unite to roll a 

 large section to the water. In doing this, some 

 may stand with paws against it and push, and 

 others may put their sides or hips against it. On 

 land, as in the water, small limb-covered trees are 

 dragged butt foremost so as to meet the least 

 resistance. Sometimes the beaver drags walking 

 backwards; at other times he is alongside the 

 tree carrying and dragging it forward. 



Early explorers say that beaver do most of their 

 work at night. In this they are practically unani- 

 mous. However, in Long's Journal, written in 

 1820, beaver were reported at work in broad day- 

 light. A few other early writers have also men- 

 tioned this daylight work. They probably work 

 in darkness because that is the safest time for 

 them to be out. During dozens of my visits to 

 secluded localities, localities which had not 

 been visited by man, and certainly not by trappers, 

 I found beaver freely at work in broad day- 

 light. I am inclined to think that day work was 

 common during primeval times ; and that, although 

 the beaver now do and long have done most of 



33 



