80 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



brush and sod which obstructed the waterway. 

 Where the lodge was they could not tell, though 

 they had gone all through the alder swamps in 

 search of it, and they declared that there was no 

 lodge. This seemed unlikely, as the nature of the 

 land precluded any possibility of a bank burrow. 

 After a careful examination of the vicinity I found 

 it actually on the railway embankment not ten 

 feet from where trains were passing every day, 

 but it was so cunningly hidden in a small, thick 

 clump of alders that it was almost indistinguishable, 

 even though it was fully eight feet in diameter. 

 In complete contrast to this one finds the lodges 

 on the bleakest barrens, away from any trees or 

 shrubs, conspicuous black (being made of pond 

 muck) mounds which are visible for a mile or more. 

 When entirely protected by water there is seldom 

 much attempt at concealment, and one of the 

 most common types is the lodge built on an island, 

 artificial or natural, in the middle of a lake or small 

 pond. So also is the lodge often seen on a bare 

 point of land extending into the lake. As this 

 does not have the protection of the water it makes 

 us wonder whether or not the animals place any 

 importance on concealment, or whether it is simply 

 a matter of individual ideas. 



We do not realise sufficiently how strong individu- 

 ality is in animals when we attempt to generalise 

 or lay down hard and fast rules to govern their 

 actions. It would be far easier for us to under- 



