476 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



In swimming the Beaver relies on its hind-feet as paddles, 

 the tail is used chiefly as a rudder, the fore feet are little em- 

 ployed. 

 sANiTA- Like all creatures that live in colonies and have elaborate 



TION 



homes, the Beaver has progressed well along the lines of sanita- 

 tion. At all times the lodges are found scrupulously clean; 

 for the owner invariably steps out of doors when prompted 

 to void its ordure; the product is like a lot of fine chips and 

 wood fibre of light colour. Curiously enough the dam is a 

 favourite place for the deposit, perhaps on the principle that 

 every little helps. 



DISEASE- Like others of our beasts, this species has its years of 



increase and decrease, and also is subject to diseases that are 

 as yet not understood. Tanner says " of the Beaver on 

 Upper Red River about 1800: 



" Some kind of distemper was prevailing among the animals 

 which destroyed them in vast numbers. I found them dead and 

 dying in the water, on the Ice, and on the land ; sometimes 

 I found one that, having cut a tree half down, had died at Its 

 roots; sometimes one who had drawn a stick of timber half 

 way to his lodge was lying dead by his burden. Many of them 

 which I opened were red and bloody about the heart. Those 

 in large rivers and running water suff^ered less; almost all of 

 those that lived in ponds and stagnant water died. Since that 

 year the Beaver have never been so plentiful in the country of 

 Red River and Hudson Bay as they used formerly to be." 



POPULAR In correction of several ancient errors. It Is well to re- 



ERRORS , . 



ABOUT member that: 



BEAVERS 'jpj^g Beaver cannot and does not drive stakes. 



It never plasters the lodge with mud outside. All lodges 

 are finished outside with sticks. 



It does not use its tail as a trowel. 



It does not suck the air out of sticks to make them stay 

 down. 



" Quoted by Dr. E. Coues in Henry's Journal, p. 256. 



