THE BEAVEE. ISO 



by a wonderful provision )f Niture i:s instinct entbles it io 

 produce them by its own exerti)Ls. Where it cai ind rivers, 

 brooks, ii-d svanopy lakes which maintaiu an ever, level 

 throughout the year, tic beaver has a tofeiahlf Idle life ; but 

 as in ioost districts the lives of rivers and lakes ;re apt io 

 sink a: various seasons ii left to themselves,— whenever 

 an eniigriLt party A beaTers have fixed m i nev lecdity, 

 they set tc work tc dam up the stream o: )ttlet of the lake, 

 to prevent a catastrophe which might bring rain ail dsstrue- 

 tion or. their nev colony. In ISovt. Scotia, &s veil as in 

 other parts of Ninth America _a;ge level spaces ire found 

 covered with i rich alluvial soil, from whieh spring ip waving 

 fields of wild grass. Frcm this the human settler draws ai 

 abundant supply of Lay for his stcck ii. winder, anc ought to 

 feel deeply indebted to the persevering beaver forthe loon. 

 They are knewn as ' wiH meadows" ail are )f frequent 

 occurrence in :he bxckwxds. It is evident that hey were 

 formed ty tie following process —Tie;/ aie found n valleys 

 through whieh, in ages past, a block trickled A party of 

 beavers muring, and finding il abundance of f>cl en the 

 side of the hills, wo ill set to, work to form i ism )f sufficient 

 strength tc keen bac'i the stream, till a pone was eeatec, on 

 the edge )f which tliey might build their leixe-shapid habita- 

 tions. Extensive spices in the woods were thus hundated, 

 and the cekny of beavers lived in bug yens )n he barks 

 of theii artificial Jakes. They, however, lacking foBthought, 

 like many human beings lid net suMciently lock to the 

 future. En process of tine the trees, being destroyed decayed 

 and fell; while the soil washed down from the suirounding 

 hills, filled un the pond constructed by the iiduftticus 

 animals and they were compelled to migrate t( sane other 

 (37'.): 9 



