RESULTS OF BEAVERS' WORK 169 



Standing erect as on the previous day he gazed 

 intently at the home of his old friends. They had 

 not yet made their appearance, but from their lodge 

 came the sound of muffled voices, for they were 

 holding an animated conversation in beaver lan- 

 guage, which sounds like a strange subdued mixture 

 of children's voices and very young pigs squealing, 

 varied now and then by a puppy's cry. Whether 

 or not our beaver understood the drift of their dis- 

 cussion would be difficult to say, but certain it is 

 that he seemed to be very much interested by it 

 all. While he stood there almost as motionless as a 

 statue, I made several exposures, bringing the camera 

 nearer and nearer each time ; when within almost 

 five feet he turned round to examine the strange 

 one-eyed monster that was approaching so quietly. 

 It evidently puzzled him without frightening him. 

 After a few moments his curiosity got the upper 

 hand and he came straight for it, slowly of course, 

 and hesitating slightly at each step. As he came 

 nearer I retreated that I might the better see what 

 he would do. To begin with each leg of the tripod 

 was scrutinised most carefully ; these he evidently 

 concluded were harmless, so resting his hands on 

 one of the legs he reached up and took a good look 

 at the camera itself. His nose must have discovered 

 some new odour, for he sniffed first on one side 

 then on the other for many minutes ; suddenly his 

 attention was attracted by the rubber ball belong- 

 ing to the shutter. This was moving at the end 



