66 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 
hauling loads up a steep bank, and well enough do 
they realise this when they make the tunnel. It 
is always seen that the beaver never carry wood 
further than is absolutely necessary, and they avail 
themselves of every possible opportunity of shorten- 
ing their journeys, resorting to the most remark- 
able feats for the accomplishment of their purpose. 
Of all the work done by beaver nothing can 
compare for cleverness with the canals. they con- 
struct. These canals, I venture to say, are a 
demonstration of the highest skill to be found in 
the work of any animal below man. It is even 
doubtful whether man in his lowest form does 
such extraordinary constructive work, and with 
such remarkable success. This remark may be 
criticised by those who hate to credit animals with 
anything more than instinct, and absolutely deny 
to them the power of a certain very definite order 
of intelligence. Instinct is defined as “a natural 
spontaneous impulse or propensity, especially in 
the lower animals, that moves them without 
reasoning toward the actions that are essential to 
their existence, preservation and development, and 
that reason would approve as tending to their 
welfare or to some useful end.” Further, it is said 
to be “unlike reason in pushing unintelligently 
toward its ends, in attaining at once to perfection 
in its work, and as being incapable of development 
and progress.” “ Although reason may... in 
varying degrees be blended with instinct, the dic: 
