268 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



autumn ; but during winter tlie j fall off in flesli, 

 so that they are generally quite poor bj spring, 

 when they feed upon the bark of roots, and the 

 roots of various aquatic plants, some of which 

 are at that season white, tender, and juicy. 

 During winter, when the ice is thick and strong, 

 the trappers hunt the beaver in the following 

 manner : a hole is cut in the ice as near as pos- 

 sible to the aperture leading to the dwelling of 

 the animal, the situation of which is first ascer- 

 tained ; a green stick is placed firmly in front of 

 it, and a smaller stick on each side, about a foot 

 from the stick of green wood ; the bottom is 

 then patted or beaten smooth and even, and a 

 strong stake is set into the ground to hold the 

 chain of the trap, which is placed within a few 

 inches of the stick of green wood, well baited, 

 and the beaver, attracted either by the fresh 

 bark or the bait, is almost always caught. 

 Although when captured in this manner, the 

 animal struggles, diving and swiraming about in 

 its efforts to escape, it never cuts off a foot in or- 

 der to obtain its liberty ; probably because it is 

 drowned before it has had time to think of this 

 method of saving itself from the hunter. When 

 trapping under other circumstances, the trap is 

 placed within five or six inches of the shore, and 

 about the same distance below the surface of the 

 water, secured and baited as usual. If caught, 



