THE LIFE OF A BEAVER COLONY 111 



it was large enough to accommodate the five 

 occupants. Another entrance was also made in 

 case of emergencies. Tree cutting began as on 

 the previous year as the colouring of the trees 

 was passing its prime. But now they needed a 

 much larger supply of winter food as there were 

 more than twice as many mouths to feed and none 

 of the supply gathered a year ago was now fit for 

 food. Some of it was dragged on to the house and 

 dam, but most was left to anchor the fresh cuttings, 

 and to form an arched way to the newly made 

 tunnel. While all these tasks were being accom- 

 plished, the young beaver followed their parents, 

 sometimes biting down very small shrubs and 

 carrying twigs to the food pile. They even brought 

 up little clumps of mud and put them on the lodge 

 and dam. From one task to another they went 

 like restless children, always busy doing something 

 or nothing. They had almost completely given up 

 coming out during the day time, and seldom 

 appeared until an hour before the sun had vanished 

 behind the trees. 



Toward the middle of November, the first flakes 

 of fluffy snow drifted slowly and aimlessly down on 

 the frozen earth. It was the advance guard of the 

 storms which would soon follow. Very gradually 

 the white mantle spread, and the soft browns, greys 

 and greens of the land were hidden and the beavers 

 snuggled down in their cosy warm beds, contented 

 and confident that winter with all its hardships had 



