THE BEAVERS OF NORTH AMERICA 57 
occasionally, owing to the position of the tree, the 
cutting is done entirely from one side. This, of 
course, involves far greater labour on account of 
the larger opening being necessary. The size of 
the chips which are cut by the beaver is truly: 
extraordinary. If the wood is soft, such as poplar 
or cedar, they will take out pieces fully five inches 
long by an inch and a half wide and three quarters 
of an inch in thickness, while with hard woods such 
as maple or birch, the chips will be usually three to 
four inches long and one and a half wide. Much 
larger chips are sometimes found, but they are 
exceptional, and must not be taken as the rule. 
Nine inch chips are mentioned by some writers, 
but they were perhaps cut for bedding purposes, to 
be taken in the lodge and shredded, and can not, 
therefore, be regarded as chips cut during the fell- 
ing of trees. From the size of the tooth scars, the 
size of the beaver may be judged. Many other 
tales do they tell. Often the mark of a chipped 
tooth is found, which shows that the animal had 
probably been caught in a trap and broken the 
tooth by trying to bite the cruel steel, while dull 
and rough edges are evidence of the great age of 
the beaver, just as the narrow cuttings are the work 
of the youngsters. 
The upsetting of pet beliefs is always a thankless 
task; but this is not a book of fairy tales. The 
truth, so far as possible, must be told even at the 
risk of being called to account for being too practical 
