THE BEAVERS OF NORTH AMERICA 67 



tinction between the two is sufficiently precise ; 

 for reason, in whatever degree present, only acts 

 upon a definite and often laboriously acquired 

 knowledge of the relation between means and 

 ends." If we accept these definitions how can we 

 possibly avoid crediting the beaver with the power 

 of reasoning? In so much that they do they 

 surely prove a clear understanding "of the rela- 

 tion between means and ends." Do they go to all 

 the trouble of building dams, and making great 

 canals without a full realisation of what is to be 

 gained by the labour? They are not actually 

 doing anything which can be said to directly affect 

 their welfare, but something which when completed 

 will reduce their labours and enable them to carry 

 on certain undertakings with the least possible effort 

 and the best possible results. It seems to prove that 

 they think ahead and make their plans accordingly. 

 When man builds a bridge across a river he does 

 so simply to enable him to have access to the two 

 sides with the least effort. It is not necessary to 

 his existence any more than are the canals which 

 intersect the country, so that produce may be 

 carried from place to place with the greatest ease. 

 He is doing exactly what the beaver does, and yet 

 no one would venture to say that we build bridges 

 and canals by instinct. We say that we have 

 thought the matter out very carefully, and have acted 

 according to reason, while the poor beaver, which 

 does what are practically the same things on even 



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