220 ROMANCE OF THE BEAVER 
The camera may be placed on or near the dam so 
that the opening is about in the centre of the plate. 
A. black thread across the breach, about five inches 
above water-level (to avoid muskrats), attached 
to the flashlight and shutter should answer the 
purpose if you have a satisfactory outfit, but bear 
in mind that every part of the apparatus must be 
protected from damp, and sufficiently firmly placed 
to prevent being blown over by sudden winds. It 
is not necessary asa rule to conceal the camera, as 
the beaver pays but little attention to it ; he is more 
interested in the scent left by man, so it is as well 
to throw water over footprints and anything near 
the ground that has been handled. If all goes well 
you will get lots of exposures, but in most cases the 
pictures will show simply a shapeless mass of wet 
fur to take the place of the beaver. Such at least 
has been my experience, for out of about thirty 
exposures only four or five showed the animal with 
any shape. Don’t forget that the beaver moves 
quickly, so the exposure should be very short. On 
land the difficulties increase enormously. There 
are so many trees to which the animal may come 
that it is no easy task to select the one to which he 
will come. The surest way is to lay a seductive 
branch of birch or maple on a regular pathway, and 
arrange the camera accordingly. When work is 
being done on the lodges there is always a chance 
of securing photographs of the animal carrying up 
mud or sticks, but great precaution must be taken 
