INTRODUCTION 8 



What Colonel Roosevelt, Dr. W. T. Hornaday 

 (of the New York Zoological Society), the 

 Audubon Societies, the Museum of Natural 

 History of New York and other organisations 

 and individuals have done for birds, and some 

 animals, should be done for the beaver. The 

 perpetuation of the species could be carried on 

 with so Httle trouble, and the results would repay 

 the efforts ten-thousandfold. 



If this little book does anything to call attention 

 to the question of adequate protection either in the 

 United States, Canada, Newfoundland, and else- 

 where, the many years of hard work will be more 

 than amply repaid. In treating the subject I have 

 avoided all mention of methods of trapping as it is 

 intended as a constructive and not a destructive 

 work. Someone will come after me who will no 

 doubt treat the subject of beaver life far better and 

 with greater thoroughness. That work will, I 

 trust, be received with gratitude. In the mean- 

 time those who are interested in the subject will 

 perhaps experience some slight pleasure from this 

 effort to call attention to the beaver, his work, 

 and its far-reaching effects. 



Among those to whom I am indebted for 

 information are many who have passed to the land 

 of shadows, but have left behind them the results 

 of their observations. I therefore offer my thanks, 

 both to the living and the dead — most conspicuous 

 among them being Lewis H. Morgan, for " The 



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