40 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



length, while the height is in accordance with the 

 demands of the stream. The more rapid the 

 current the higher the dam. In very flat country, 

 where the waterways are sluggish, and these are 

 the most sought after by the beaver, they are 

 usually not more than a foot or two in height. 

 Few streams are too large, and none too small for 

 dams. I have seen a stream less than two feet 

 wide on which there were no less than seven 

 within a distance of scarcely one hundred yards. 

 Their chief object, apparently, was to keep the 

 water from draining out of a flat alder swamp, 

 from which the beavers were busily engaged in 

 getting their winter supply of food. To have 

 hauled branches through the tangled undergrowth 

 would have been a difficult task, but by keeping 

 the water only a few inches above its normal level 

 they could make channels among the hummocks 

 through which they could with comparative ease 

 swim with the branches and sticks. 



In selecting the site for the dam, the beaver 

 shows a remarkable power of discrimination, and 

 one wonders how it is that so short an animal can 

 possibly make any survey of the country and get 

 any appreciation of the conditions. They have 

 two principal objects in view when selecting the 

 site for a new house ; an abundance of water, and 

 trees whose bark is suitable for food. These are 

 their needs, but the question of obtaining and 

 controlling them requires serious consideration and 



