CHAPTER III. 



HOW TO HUNT AND CATCH THE BEAVER. 



During tlie greater part of the time since the settlement 

 of America by Europeans, the beaver has been a favorite 

 object with hunters. The general aspect of the beaver is 

 that of a very large muskrat, but the greater size of the 

 beaver, the thickness and breadth of its head, and its hor- 

 izontally flattened, broad, and scaly tail, render it impos- 

 sible to mistake it for any other creature. When closely 

 examined in its movements, both on shore and in the wa- 

 ter, it also closely resembles the mnskrat, having the same 

 qnick step, with great vigor and celerity, either on the 

 surface or in the depths of the water. 



Beavers have long been the theme of the naturalist's 



admiration, on account of their apparent sagacity and skill 



in building their habitations. They are not particular in the 



site they select for their dwellings, but in a lake or pond 



where a dam is not required, they are careful to build 



where the water is sufficiently deep. The materials used 



in constructing their dams are the trunks and branches 



of small birch, mulberry, willow, poplar, alder, elm, ash, 



etc. The strength of their teeth and their perseverance 



may be estimated by the size of the trees they cut down. 



Dr. Best informs us that he has seen a mulberry tree eight 

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