Beyond the West: containing an account of two years' travel in the other half of our great continent far beyond the old West, on the plains, in the Rocky mountains, and picturesque parks of Colorado. Also, characteristic features of New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho ... Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and ... California, the end of the West ... the great continental railroad, together with the ... most wonderful natural scenery in the world .../ by George W. Pine.

TRAPPING BEAVER. 169
can get out of the water with the trap he will at
once eat off his leg to escape.
The way in which the beavers construct their
dam and make their lodge has been considered among
the wonders of the animal instinct. Some have
claimed for the little creature more, no doubt, than
belongs to it, yet its sagacity is somewhat wonderful. It certainly does know how to make the water
of a stream rise to a given level by placing obstructions across the chanIel to back up the water.
It is not true, however, that it can always fall a
tree in the proper direction for this purpose. I saw
very many lodged, which they had ate off, but generally lay in the direction of the water; but trees
generally along the banks of streams take the direction of the water by gravitation.
When they are successful-get a tree down in
where they want it-they take their places along
the body of it, like good wood-choppers, and begin
to take off the logs the various lengths required for
their dam-,regard being had as to their being able
to remove it where needed. When put in place,
they secure it with sticks, stones and mud.
The work is commenced when the water is low,
and continued as it rises, until the desired height is
attained. They manifest some very good engineeriIg. The dam is not only built of the. requisite
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