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 
