168 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



his own accord, death would have been his lot had 

 not the keeper come to the rescue and given him a 

 cage where he might live until a better place could 

 be provided. It was two or three months before 

 he was turned into the enclosure in which I found 

 him. This bordered on his old home and was 

 separated only by an iron fence. Being a solitary 

 bachelor he has not as yet set up housekeeping ; 

 perhaps he thinks it scarcely worth while building 

 a house until he has a mate. As it is he has made 

 a burrow in the bank with the entrance at the level 

 of the water. In this he spends his days, seldom 

 coming out at all before sunset, frequently much 

 later. When out he spends much of his time 

 watching his old companions, while they in turn 

 seem to take but little notice of him. So much for 

 the reason of his being alone. 



On the occasion of my second visit to this soli- 

 tary beaver I brought my camera, with the fond 

 hope of being able to secure a few photographs, 

 even though the Hght might not be suitable for 

 such work. It was nearly five o'clock before he 

 made his appearance, and then, as on the day pre- 

 vious, after emerging from his burrow, he lay 

 quietly on the water taking in the situation before 

 daring to come ashore. I had placed the camera 

 so that if he went to his usual corner it would not 

 be necessary to move it. After satisfying himself 

 that all was well he landed and walking past the 

 camera took up his position at the fence corner. 



