32 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 
be safe from attack. Whether or not we are 
correct in our surmise, we. know that the dams 
are built and that they represent by far the most 
conspicuous work accomplished by any living 
animal. As feats of engineering skill they must 
command our highest respect, as examples of 
industry they are difficult to excel, and as an 
exhibition of intelligence they are only equalled 
or perhaps surpassed by the extraordinary, though 
less conspicuous, canals which are planned and 
constructed by the same animals. 
There have been many fabulous accounts of 
beaver dams, in the most ridiculous of which the 
animal has been accredited with “ driving stakes 
as thick as a man’s leg into the ground three or 
four feet deep” and with making regular hurdles 
on the dams. In fact there has been no limit to 
the fanciful stories on the subject. Even the 
generally accurate accounts of Father Joseph 
Jouvency, S.J. (1610—13), from whom I have 
already quoted, bear evidence of slight exaggeration. 
He says, in describing the dams: “If they find 
any river suitable for their purposes, except in 
having sufficient depth, they build a dam to keep 
back the water until it rises to the required height. 
And first by gnawing them, they fell trees of large 
size; then lay them across from one shore to the 
other. They construct a double barrier and 
rampart * of logs obliquely placed, having, between 
* Translation of Duplicem versum et ordinem arborum faciunt. ° 
