56 



THE SrORY OF THE BEAVER. 



When possible the timber for the dam is cut "up stream" and floated 

 down. Earth and stones carried by the beavers between their paws and 

 chins are mixed in with the brush and logs, and last of all the dam receives 

 a coat of mud, plastered on as neatly as if it were done by a skilled human 

 being. 



There is a popular belief that the beavers use their tails as trowels when 

 performing this work and smoothing the floors of their lodges. This is an 

 error They use only their paws. The beaver's tail serves him only as a 

 rudder when swimming and assist him in diving. He always slaps the 

 water with his tail just before he dives, making a loud noise easily recog- 



BEAVERS AND THEIR ENEMY, THE SEA OTTER. 



nized by trappers. The ''whack" of a beaver's tail against the water is also a 

 note of alarm and warns his comrades of danger. 



The height of the water in a beaver dam is regulated by an opening 

 through which the surplus water escapes. If the beaver wishes to lower the 

 water he enlarges the opening, and closes it when he wants the water to rise. 

 The length of a beaver-dam may occasionally be as much as one hundred 

 and fifty or two hundred yards, and their ponds rnay cover many acres. Fre- 

 quently a formation of peat commences round the edges of the ponds, and 

 this may extend over the whole area, converting it into a swampy tract 

 known as a beaver-meadow. A considerable part of the city of Montreal 

 is built upon such beaver-meadows. 



The outside of a beaver lodge is plastered over as carefully as the dam. 



