DESCRIPTION 5 
from 41 to 48 per cent of the length, and the Carolina 
beaver, according to the data at my command, has much 
the broadest tail, that of the type-specimen being 10.8 by 
6 inches in size. The connection with the body is com- 
paratively broad and thick, and very muscular while the 
tail itself is largely composed of fatty tissue. ‘The muscles 
are powerful and the animal has complete control over them, 
being able to turn the tail in almost any direction, even 
completely underneath the body, so that it can sit upon it. 
An old trapper informed me that a pet beaver owned by 
him used its tail as a table, placing food upon it. The 
tail serves as a brace when the owner is standing up cutting 
down a tree, when it would seem likely that those strong 
muscles would come in good play: It is used as a rudder 
when swimming, and at times as a scull to give increased 
speed, or possibly as a change from using the hind feet. 
Mills states that he occasionally saw a pet beaver carry mud or 
other building material clasped between the tail and the body. 
In diving when alarmed, a beaver often gives an alarm by 
slapping the water with its tail, making a loud noise, and 
incidentally splashing water in every direction (Fig. 1). 
The eyes are small, and the range of vision is probably 
limited, though they are quick to detect a moving object. 
The ears are comparatively short, an inch and a half high, 
lined with fur, closed when under water, while the hearing is 
keen. Even though short, the ears are really quite noticea- 
ble and prominent when the animal is swimming, or at rest 
on the surface of the water, being carried erect and standing 
(Fig. 2) clearly defined against the head. The small nostrils 
are valvular, like the ears, with large nasal cavities behind 
them, and the sense of smell is very.acute. The mouth has 
hairy lips closing back of the incisors so as to exclude water 
when the animal is working below the surface. 
The fore paws are small, with fairly long claws, and are 
