36 VIKINGS OF TO-DAY 



set for them. The trappers say they do this pur- 

 posely. When surprised they retreat to holes in the 

 bank, of which the entrances are hidden under water. 

 These are called " hovels." 



Beavers always work up wind when felling trees, 

 and cut them on the water side, so that they fall 

 into the pond if possible, and the wind helps to blow 

 them home. This beaver we caught proved to be a 

 hermit at least he was living alone. He may have 

 been a widower of unusual constancy. They do not 

 destroy fish, their food in summer being preferably 

 the stem of the water-lilies. Otters occasionally 

 kill and eat beavers. When they call the beaver 

 has to try and be " not at home." Of the other 

 animals I have not space to say much. The blue- 

 grey hare is a large animal, and like all the others 

 turns white in winter so wonderfully does God re- 

 member all His creatures. 



The pretty little squirrel is very tame. Like a 

 good sensible fellow he makes round holes in the 

 ground, and hides enough berries for his "winter 

 diet" 



The climate of Labrador is rigorous in the ex- 

 treme, in spite of the fact that in summer, especially 

 in the inlets, the thermometer sometimes registers 

 75 and even 8o c F. Icefields from Baffin's Bay and 

 Davis Strait block the coast from October to June, 

 the sea freezing entirely over all along the shore. 

 Over this all the winter travelling is done, but some- 

 times the commotion below so moves the ice up and 



