24 HARDY ON THE BEAVER IN NOVA SCOTIA. 



aud the discovery that it could be used as au unfailing bait for 

 the animal itself. This substance is contained in two small 

 sacs near the root of the tail, in which it is deposited, of an 

 orange colour. Now seldom used in pharmacology for its 

 medicinal properties, (stimulant and anti-spasmodic,) being 

 superseded by more modern discoveries, it is still used in 

 trapping the animal, as the most certain bait in existence. It is 

 said to be likewise efficacious in trapping the wild cat, which is 

 excessively fond of the odour. Mr. Thompson, a Canadian 

 writer, thus speaks of it: "A few years ago the Indians of 

 Canada and New Brunswick, on seeing the steel trap so 

 successful in catching foxes and other animals, thought of 

 applying it to the beaver, instead of the awkward wooden traps 

 they made, which often failed ; at first they were set in the 

 landing paths of the beaver, with about four inches of water 

 over them, and a piece of green aspen for a bait, that would allure 

 the beaver to the trap. Various things and mixtures of 

 ingredients were tried without success ; but chance made some 

 try if the male could not be caught by adding the castoreum, 

 beat up with the green buds of the aspen. A piece of willow 

 about eight inches in length, beat and bruised line, was dipped 

 in this mixture ; it was placed at the Avater edge about a foot 

 from the steel trap, so that the beaver should pass direct over 

 it and be caught ; this trap proved successful, but, to the 

 surprise of the Indians, the females were caught as well as the 

 males. The secret of this bait was soon spread — every Indian 

 procured from the trader four to six steel traps ; all labour was 

 now at an end — the hunter moved about with pleasure, with his 

 traps and infallible bait of castoreum. Of the infatuation of 

 this animal for castoreum, I saw several instances. A trap was 

 negligently fastened by its small chain to the stake, to prevent 

 the beaver taking away the trap when cauglit ; it slipped, aud 

 the beaver swam away with the trap, and it was k)oked upon as 

 lost. Two nights after he was taken in a trap, with the other 

 trap fast on his thigh. Another time a beaver passing over a 

 trap to get the castoreiun, had his hind leg Ijroken ; with his 

 teeth he cut the broken leg off and went away. We concluded 

 that he would not come again, but two nights afterwards he was 



