They look a little larger
than mallard ducks, and are well feathered. They fill the nest to
overflowing, and seem to realize that if they move about much, one
would soon go overboard. The two old birds--immense in size--can be
seen soaring above the nest at almost any time, but not once have we
seen them come to the nest, although we have watched with much
patience for them to do so. The great wisdom shown by those birds in
the selection of a home is wonderful. It would be utterly impossible
for man or beast to reach it.
Another nature study that we have seen in the park, and which, to me,
was most wonderful, was a large beaver village. Of course most people
of the Northwest have seen beaver villages of various sizes, but that
one was different, and should be called a city. There were elevated
roads laid off in squares that run with great precision from one
little house to the other. There are dozens and dozens of
houses--perhaps a hundred--in the marshy lake, and the amount of
intelligence and cunning the little animals have shown in the
construction of their houses and elevated roads is worth studying.
They are certainly fine engineers.
We take the road home from here, but go a much more direct route,
which will be by ambulance all the way to Fort Ellis, instead of going
by the cars from Mammoth Hot Springs. I am awfully glad of this, as it
will make the trip one day longer, and take us over a road that is new
to us, although it is the direct route from Ellis to the Park through
Rocky Canon.
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