of tfy 



which leaped upon and killed one of the har- 

 vesters. The next day the lion surprised and 

 killed another. Two or three days later a coy- 

 ote killed one on the same blood-stained spot, 

 and then overtook and killed two others as they 

 fled for the water. I could not see these deadly 

 attacks from the boulder-pile, but in each case 

 the sight of flying beavers sent me rushing up- 

 on the scene, where I beheld the cause of their 

 desperate retreat. But despite dangers they per- 

 sisted until the last of these aspens was har- 

 vested. During the winter the bark was eaten 

 from these, and the next season their clean wood 

 was used in the walls of a new house. 



One spring I several times visited a number of 

 colonies while trying to determine the number 

 of young brought forth at a birth. Six furry 

 little fellows sunning themselves on top of their 

 rude home were the first discovery ; this was the 

 twelfth of May. By the close of the month I 

 had come in sight of many youngsters, and 

 found the average number to be five. One 

 mother proudly exhibited eight, while another, 

 one who all winter had been harassed by trap- 



36 



