THE EUROPEAN BEAVER I 99 



rat. The mother follows them when they first take 

 to the water, apparently as anxious as a hen that has 

 reared ducklings ; for she takes the youngster out of 

 the water and returns it to the nest. At present 

 (July, 1907) there are three Canadian specimens in 

 the collection, but only one of these belongs to the 

 old stock. The writer saw it out about 7.15 p.m. on 

 May 30, 1907 ; it swam with a good deal of its body 

 above the surface, and held its snout up clear of the 

 water. When on land, it recalled a heavy, clumsy 

 rat, and moved slowly, as if weak from old age ; 

 such might well be the case, as it had been born in 

 the collection as long ago as September 2nd, 1888, 

 being the last of the specimens mentioned by Mr. 

 Bartlett. It had a curious habit, when cleaning 

 itself, of pressing the throat with both paws, just 

 below the larynx. 



