78 CONVERSATIONS ON 



of them are not true. But before I begin, let 

 me tell you of one book which I think does 

 tell the plain truth about them ; and the truth 

 is curious enough." 



" What book is it, Uncle Philip ?" 

 " It is a book written on American Natural 

 History, by Doctor John Godman. I knew 

 him, boys, and a most excellent man he was. 

 He is now dead and he died a Christian. 

 The book he wrote you will find worth read- 

 ing, when you get old enough to understand 

 it. But now for the beaver. 



" His tail is very broad and flat at the end, 

 and might be used very well for a trowel ; but 

 when he builds his house he does not cut down 

 trees, and place them first, and then fill up the 

 cracks with mud-mortar ; but all the sticks 

 and mud (and stones too when the beaver can 

 get them), are first mixed up together, and the 

 beaver builds his house with this from the 

 very foundation. As soon as he has placed a 

 lump of this stuff upon the wall, he turns 

 round and gives it a blow with his flat tail ; 

 and that, boys, is all he does with his tail for 

 a trowel. Sometimes he slaps his tail upon 

 the water when he is swimming ; and some 

 persons have supposed that this was done by 



