ftfo a 



in the harvest-getting, though probably without 

 accomplishing very much. During most winters 

 he has weeks of routine in the house and ponds 

 with nothing urgent to do except sleep and eat. 



He works not only tooth and nail, but tooth 

 and tail. The tail is one of the most conspicuous 

 organs of the beaver. Volumes have been written 

 concerning it. It is nearly flat, is black in color, 

 and is a convenient and much-used appendage. 

 It serves for a rudder, a stool, a prop, a scull, and 

 a signal club. It may be used for a trowel, but I 

 have never seen it so used. It serves one purpose 

 that apparently has not been discussed in print ; 

 on a few occasions I have seen a beaver carry a 

 small daub of mud or some sticks clasped between 

 the tail and the belly. It gives this awkward ani- 

 mal increased awkwardness and even an uncouth 

 appearance to see him humped up, with tail 

 tucked between his legs, in order to clasp some- 

 thing between it and his belly. 



He is accomplished in the use of arms and 

 hands. With hands he is able to hold sticks and 

 handle them with great dexterity. Like any claw- 

 ing animal he uses his hands or fore paws, to dig 



5 



