population of the colony that showed these ac- 

 tivities. On the other hand, colonies with less 

 preparations one year than on the preceding one 

 probably had suffered a decrease of population. 

 Increase of population in a beaver colony may be 

 accounted for through the growing up of young- 

 sters, or by the arrival of immigrants, or both; 

 where the temporary inactivity of trappers in one 

 locality might allow the beaver colony in that 

 region to increase in numbers; or where the 

 beaver population of that colony might be in- 

 creased by the arrival of beaver driven from their 

 homes by aggressive hunters and trappers in 

 adjoining localities. At any rate, in the beaver 

 world, some colonies each year commence work 

 earlier than do others, and some colonies make 

 extensive preparations for the winter, while others 

 make but little preparation. This preparation ap- 

 pears to be determined chiefly by the number of 

 colonists and the needs of the colony. 



The beaver hastened, if it did not bring, the 

 settlement of the country. Hunters and trappers 

 blazed the trails, described the natural resources, 

 and lured the permanent settlers to possess the 



47 



