The Tail Slapper 



35 



across old beaver dams in many places. The mere sight of 

 one would not have excited me, but I must confess that the 

 thought of the largest of our North American rodents visiting 

 our little marsh gave me pleasure. People, buildings, human 

 activity, and noise surrounded the area. Yet, on the bank 

 before me, was positive evidence that an animal feller-of- 

 trees had been working. It had stood near to where I sat in 

 my canoe and, balanced on its large webbed rear feet with 

 its tail as a third point of support, had used its chisel-like 

 teeth to bring down the tree. I looked to see if others had 

 been attacked but there were no signs. The woodcutter was 

 a new arrival. 



Once, a quite similar species, the Old World beaver, could 

 have been found in large numbers in Europe, Great Britain, 

 and the colder regions of Asia, but everywhere they had 



