W.E.A. BIOLOGY CLASS

Evening Star, Issue 19952, 23 August 1928, Page 5

W.E.A. BIOLOGY CLASS

At the class meeting Alias Eyie spoke on ‘ Social Co-operation Amongst Higher Animals,’ dealing with societies funned on an intelligent basis. The speaker dealt hriclly with the temporary societies such as tiro migratory birds, and with, various rodents, but spent most of the evening iu describing the habits and work of thc_ beaver, width is perhaps the most striking example of animal intelligence as regards communal work. They unite to perform a wonderful piece of _ architectural work, which would be impossible for the individual to accomplish, _ but which done by the whole colony is of tremendous benefit to the community. The beaver is an aquatic animal, and in order to have a constant supply of water to live in, it builds clams._ they first carry down soil, clay, which is impregnated with roots. Eliis they place across the stream. J hey novel choose water more than 2it or -3ft deep. They press the clay into place with their tails, and then put in sticks and brushwood to give the dam a firm foundation. On top of that they will put larger sticks. These dams are built in a curve, so there is not such a strain on them. Each family works separately. They cut down a tree and carry away the branches, The homes they live in in America are called “ beaver lodges.” The European beaver does not make a lodge, but lives in burrows. The beaver lodges are wonderfully constructed of mud, rocks, and stones, and on the outside are piles of sticks. In this lodge lives a family. The winter food is stored in the which has two approaches, one straight one, through _ which the wood is carried, and a winding one, with the entrance either up or down the stream. _ This is a precaution against enemies. When the beavers have used un the wood available near whore they live, they cut canals from the dam to the edge of the wood tney are to work on. These canals are 3ft deep and 3ft wide, and often as long as GOOft, These canals form beaver meadows, where the trees have been felled, leaving an open space, _ with rotten roots and stamps appearing in soft, soggy meadows.