THE BEAVER. 139 



upon the heap. After a time, the former beavers go through 

 the same process ; and this is continued until a mound of 

 three or four feet in height has been raised. It is difficult to 

 account for the object of this strange proceeding. It was not, 

 however, till of late years that the sagacious Indians dis- 

 covered that the castoreum was a certain bait for the animals 

 themselves. Formerly, the bait they employed was a piece 

 of green aspen, beaten up, and placed near the trap. At 

 length an Indian tried whether a male might not be caught 

 by adding some of the castoreum. By that time steel traps 

 had been introduced, instead of the clumsy wooden traps 

 before used. Not only were the males caught, but the females 

 also ; and the trappers were now able with their steel traps 

 to catch vast numbers of the infatuated animals. It is said 

 that the creatures, when perceiving the scent, will sit upright, 

 snuffing about in every direction, and squealing with excite- 

 ment. The younger animals, however, are those chiefly 

 caught. The old ones are often too cunning ; and it is affirmed 

 that, instead of touching the bait, they will cover up the trap 

 with mud and stones till a mound has been raised, and then, 

 depositing their superabundant castoreum upon it, take their 

 departure. 



We must conclude our account by again quoting Captain 

 Hardy. Of the infatuation of this animal for castoreum he 

 saw several instances. " A trap was fastened by its steel 

 chain to a stake, to prevent the beaver, when caught, taking 

 it away. It slipped, however, and the beaver swam away with 

 the trap, and it was looked upon as lost. Two nights after- 

 wards he was again taken in a trap, with the other fast on his 

 thigh. Another time a beaver, passing over a trap to get the 

 castoreum, had his hind-leo^ broken. With his teeth he cut 



