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 haveacted 
according to reason, while the poor beaver, which 
does what are practically the same things on even 
F2 
