220 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 



The camera may be placed on or near the dam so 

 that the opening is about in the centre of the plate. 

 A black thread across the breach, about five inches 

 above water-level (to avoid muskrats), attached 

 to the flashlight and shutter should answer the 

 purpose if you have a satisfactory outfit, but bear 

 in mind that every part of the apparatus must be 

 protected from damp, and sufficiently firmly placed 

 to prevent being blown over by sudden winds. It 

 is not necessary as a rule to conceal the camera, as 

 the beaver pays but little attention to it ; he is more 

 interested in the scent left by man, so it is as well 

 to throw water over footprints and anything near 

 the ground that has been handled. If all goes well 

 you will get lots of exposures, but in most cases the 

 pictures will show simply a shapeless mass of wet 

 fur to take the place of the beaver. Such at least 

 has been my experience, for out of about thirty 

 exposures only four or five showed the animal with 

 any shape. Don't forget that the beaver moves 

 quickly, so the exposure should be very short. On 

 land the difficulties increase enormously. There 

 are so many trees to which the animal may come 

 that it is no easy task to select the one to which he 

 will come. The surest way is to lay a seductive 

 branch of birch or maple on a regular pathway, and 

 arrange the camera accordingly. When work is 

 being done on the lodges there is always a chance 

 of securing photographs of the animal carrying up 

 mud or sticks, but great precaution must be taken 



