THE BEA VER. 465 



dexterously, to peel it as really as if the operation had been performed by human hands with 

 the aid of a knife. 



Not all the Beavers employ themselves in these united labors, for there are some which, 

 like drones, refuse to take any part in % the proceedings, and are technically called "Les 

 paresseux," or the Idlers, by the Beaver-hunters. These animals make no dam and build no 

 house, but content themselves with excavating long tunnels and taking up their abode therein. 

 Several of these idlers inhabit the same burrow, and as they are always males, it is supposed 

 that they must have been conquered in the contests which take place between most male 

 animals while they are seeking their mates, and that they must have retired into comparative 

 solitude until they have gained sufficient strength and courage to renew the fight. These 

 idlers are gladly welcomed by the hunters, for they are easily caught, and a skilful trapper 

 thinks himself ill-used if he does not capture every idler that he may meet. 



We now must bestow a little time on the curious odoriferous substance which is called 

 " castoreum " by the learned, and " bark-stone " by the trappers. This substance is secreted in 

 two glandular sacs which are placed near the root of the tail, and gives out an extremely power- 

 ful odor. 



To the castoreum the trapper is mostly indebted for his success, for the Beavers are 

 strangely attracted by this substance, and if their nostrils perceive its distant scent, the 

 animals will sit upright, sniff about in every direction, and absolutely squeal with excitement. 

 Taking advantage of this curious propensity, the hunter always carries a supply of castoreum, 

 in a closed vessel, and when he comes to a convenient spot for placing his trap, he sets the trap 

 and then proceeds to manufacture his bait. This process is simple enough, consisting merely 

 of taking a little twig of wood about nine inches long, chewing one end of it and dipping it in 

 the castoreum. The trap is now laid so as to be covered by about six inches of water, and the 

 stick arranged so that its perfumed tip projects from the water. Any Beaver which scents this 

 bait will most certainly come to it, and will probably be captured in the trap. 



Connected with this strange mode of baiting a trap, is a habit which has only recently 

 been brought before the public by the researches of Messrs. Audubon and Bachman. 



If two Beaver lodges are tolerably near each other, the inhabitants of the one lodge, 

 which we will call lodge A, go to a little distance for the purpose of ridding themselves of the 

 superabundant castoreum. The Beavers of lodge B, smelling the castoreum, go to the same spot, 

 and cover the odoriferous substance with a thick layer of earth and leaves. They then place their 

 own castoreum upon the heap, and return home. The inhabitants of lodge A then go through 

 precisely the same process, until they have raised a mound some four or five feet in height. 



To return to the baited trap spoken of in the last paragraph but one. If the Beaver 

 which smells the bait is a young one, it will almost certainly be captured ; but if it should 

 chance to be an old and experienced animal, it will not only avoid capture, but render the trap 

 useless until it has been re-set. For instead of trying to get at the bait, it fetches quantities 

 of mud and stones, heaps its load upon the trap until it has raised a small mound, and after 

 placing its own superabundant castoreum upon the little hillock, goes away in safety. 



In spite of their store of provisions, the Beavers become very thin during the winter 

 months, so that they are in bad case when spring comes in. However, the succulent diet which 

 they then find has a rapid and beneficial effect upon them, and by the beginning of autumn 

 they are quite fat. By study of the Beaver' s habits, the trappers are enabled to prognosticate 

 the kind of weather which is likely to happen. For example, as it is well known that the 

 Beavers always cut their winter's store of wood in good season, the fact of their early com- 

 mencement of this labor shows that winter will be earlier than usual. 



The color of the long shining hairs which cover the back of the Beaver is a light chestnut, 

 and the fine wool that lies next to the skin is a soft grayish-brown. The total length of the 

 animal is about three feet and a half ; the flat, paddle-shaped, scale-covered tail being about 

 one foot in length. The flesh of the Beaver is eaten by the trappers, who compare it to flabby 

 pork. The tail is something like beef marrow, when properly cooked, but it is too rich and 

 oily to suit the taste of most persons. The female Beaver produces about three or four young 

 at a litter, and the little creatures are born with open eyes. 



