THE COLLECTORS' MONTHLY. 



21 



A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Study of 

 Ornithology, Oology and Entomology. 



J. B. PECK, Editor and Publisher. 



Interesting MSS, relating to either Ornithology, 

 Oology, Entomology or other Natural History subjects 

 always solicited for publication. 



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Vol. I. OCTOBER 1893. No. 3. 



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We extend our thanks to Mr. 

 Ernest H. Short for his neat pamphlet 

 entitled : — " Birds of Western New 

 York." 



Look over ads. and exchanges. 



Special attention is called to the 

 grand offer that Mr. Thaddeus Surber 

 has made in regard to disposing of his 

 Library ; we are in receipt of a list 

 of the books and think that it well 

 worth the price asked. See adv. on 

 fourth page of cover. 



The Beaver, 



Castor fiber. 



Beavers belong to the family of 

 rodents ; they have sharp chisel-shape 

 teeth ; broad, scaly tail ; the feet have 

 five toes, the hind feet alone being 

 webbed. They are considered a deli- 

 cate dish by indians and hunters. 



Their houses are built in creeks 

 and streams and the water is kept at 

 the same height by means of a dam. 

 This dam is built of logs, mud and 

 stones plastered tightly together. 



The houses, which are half above 

 and half below water, are divided into 

 apartments, each family occupying 

 one apartment ; no apartments are 

 connected except by water. 



The mud and stones, used in build- 

 ing the dam and house, are carried be- 

 tween the fore-paws and chin ; the 

 logs are dragged through the water. 



It is supposed by many that they 

 use their tail for smoothing off their 

 houses, and for carrying material to 

 build with, but these stories are er- 

 roneous. 



When a beaver sets to work to fell 

 a tree, he gnaws all around the trunk, 

 and by wonderful instinct makes the 

 cut higher on one side than on the 

 other so that the tree will fall the way 

 he wishes it to. 



The number of inhabitants in one 

 dwelling is seldom more than four 

 old and eight young, although twice 

 the number have been known to oc- 

 cupy the same house. 



They are not very particular in the 

 building of their houses as they are 



