retreat in case of sudden attack from wolves or 

 other foe. There were two other of these bur- 

 rows, one at the outer end of the old canal and 

 the other alongside the boulder one hundred and 

 ten feet from the house. 



At the time I saw these canals, the only trees 

 near were those of an aspen grove which sur- 

 rounded the extreme end. It was autumn, and on 

 both tributary slopes by the end of the canal, 

 aspens were being cut, dragged, and rolled down 

 these slopes into the upper end of the canal, then 

 floated through its waters, dragged over and 

 across the walls, and at last piled up for winter 

 food in the basin by the house. In all probability 

 this long, large canal had been built a few yards 

 at a time, being extended as the trees near-by 

 were cut down and used. 



Where beaver long inhabit a locality it is not 

 uncommon for them to have two or three distinct 

 and well-used trails from points on the water's 

 edge which lead into neighboring groves or tree- 

 clumps. These are the beaten tracks traveled by 

 the beaver as they go forth from the water for 

 food, and over which they drag their trees and 



in 



