THE STORY OF THE BEAVER. 



59 



castoreiim, a pungent drug made from castor, a waxy substance found in 

 beavers' tails. 



Unless the beaver is caught near the shoulder he will escape even from a 

 trap of steel, by gnawing of¥ his leg, especially if he be caught by the foreleg. 



Beavers are characterized by their stout and heavy bodies, being most 



PHOTOGRAPH OF BEAVERS SHINGLING THEIR HOUSES, AND DRAWING OF A BEAVER S HOUSE ON 

 ONE SIDE OF A STREAM WITH HIS SECRET HIDING PLACE ON OPPOSITE BANK. 



marked in the hinder quarters. The head is large and rounded, with short 

 ears; and the tail is of moderate length, much flattened, and covered with a 

 naked, scaly skin. The limbs are short, with five sharp-clawed toes on both 

 the fore and hind-feet; all the toes of the hind-feet being connected by a 

 web extending to the roots of the claws. There is an additional claw on the 



