BEA VERS 



squirrel are good examples of the latter condition at birth. 

 With reference to the beavers, I have never ventured to 

 disturb their nests at the time I supposed or believed they 

 had young. When the young beavers appear out and 

 away from the nest they are about 9 in. in length, and 

 rather larger than a full-grown rat. The mother always 



appears anxious to conceal 

 the young ones, and when 

 first they enter the water 

 she will follow the one 

 venturesome enough to do 

 so, taking it in her mouth 

 and returning it to the nest. 



As it is repeated two or three times in the course 

 of an hour I am not a little puzzled to know if it is the 

 same young one on each occasion. My belief is that 

 beavers produce two at a birth, but upon one occasion three 

 young ones made their appearance. I cannot, however, 

 positively say that they all belonged to the same mother. 

 There are many people even of the present day who have 



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