88 



Marvels of the Universe 



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is built far out in the water 

 and is then termed a " lodge." 

 Despite stories as to their 

 complex structure, such lodges 

 merel}' consist of heaps of 

 brushwood and chips with a 

 large central chamber in which 

 the occupant maj- dwell secure 

 from foes. The story that 

 the Beaver uses its flattened, 

 trowel-like and scaly tail to 

 plaster down the mud of its 

 dam is a pure fiction ; the 

 whole of the work being done 

 by the paws and teeth. The 

 real use of the horizontally 

 flattened tail is to assist the 

 animal in coming rapidly to 

 the surface to breathe or 

 work. 



I.ike squirrels, rats, and 

 rabbits. Beavers have a pair 

 of strong, chisel-like teeth in 

 the front of each jaw, which 

 grow throughout hfe, and 

 always keep a sharp edge. It 

 is by these that tree-felling is 

 done. A peculiarity of the 

 Bea\-er is the presence of an 

 additional claw on the hind- 

 foot, thus producing a kind 

 of comb-like structure, pro- 

 bably used in cleansing the 

 fur. 



It is, however, not only 

 on account of its marvellous 

 engineering works that the 

 Beaver has a special claim to 

 interest ; for, in proportion to its size, it has a commercial value which is exceeded by few other 

 animals. Its value at the present day is, however, somewhat less than was formerly the case, 

 owing to the fact that one of its products is now held in little esteem. Here it maj' be well to 

 mention that to the ancient Greeks the Beaver was known as castor, a name said to be derived 

 from gastro, the stomach, and to have been applied to the animal on account of its paunchy 

 appearance. Be the derivation what it mav, the name has been adopted as the first half of the 

 scientific designation of the beaver. 



From castor is derived the word castoreum, applied to a resinous and strong-smelling secretion 

 contained in a pair of pouches in the groin of the Beaver. Formerly castoreum was highly esteemed 

 both in medicine and perfumery ; and not many years ago from eight to ten dollars a pound was the 

 current price for this commodity in Canada. Now^adays, however, its use in medicine has, I believe, 



Photo hp^ [ir. A. Jjimock: 



BEAVERS ON IHEIR DAM. 



In this photograph a pair of beavers are seen actually at v, orlc constructing 

 their dam across a rapid stream. 



