THE BEAVER IN NORWAY 251 



known for years. They will even occasionally cross 

 small arms of the sea, and the perils of the journey end 

 in death to no inconsiderable number. 



Several old-time superstitions still cling round the beaver. 

 One of the most persistent and most incorrect is that 

 the flat scaly tail is employed as a trowel for plastering 

 down the mud during building operations. Another is 

 that the secretion of the tail-glands — the castoreum of the 

 old pharmacopoeia — has the property of frightening away 

 whales or porpoises when approaching the boat ! Still 

 more strange is the old idea that some individuals were 

 compelled to lie on their backs and be laden with building 

 materials, when they were dragged by their companions 

 to the scene of operations. Probably this fable originated 

 from the circumstance that many individuals have the 

 hair worn off the back from constantly passing up and 

 down the narrow burrow or entrance to a lodge. 



