FACTS ABOUT THE BEAVER. 



R. C. W. LETT. 



Now that the beaver is fast becoming 

 extinct, it is only on rare occasions that a 

 person has a chance to study the habits 

 of this most interesting animal. While 

 canoeing through the highlands of Ontario 

 recently, 1 came across many wonderful 

 works by these 4-footed laborers, which 

 I am certain could not be constructed by 

 the greatest architect in the land, provid- 

 ed the same material were used. Many 



a dam. A large rock stood up in the center 

 of the creek and there the intelligent little 

 chaps built their dam, using that rock as 

 the middle stay, or pier. 



The first thing a beaver does after choos- 

 ing a site for a dam, is to fell a poplar or 

 birch. That is a sight worth going miles 

 to see. The work is done in a manner to- 

 tally unlike that depicted in the general run 

 of photos and sketches, in the taking and 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY R. C. W. LETTS 



BEAVER DAM. 



Showing lake on level with head of man in foreground, who stands on a rock at back of dam. 



have heard of the beaver dam, but compara- 

 tively few have any idea of what it looks 

 like, and of what use it is to the beaver. 

 The photo reproduced herewith shows one 

 of the most perfect beaver dams I ever 

 had the pleasure of seeing. A number 

 of years ago a small stream rippled 

 quietly through a beavers' paradise of 

 rich, juicy poplars and birches, and served 

 to carry off the overflow of a small 

 lake about a mile above this dam. Now 

 the scene is changed. Some energetic 

 beaver, seeing a chance for a rich harvest 

 there, picked a favorable spot for building 



making of which stuffed beavers are usual- 

 ly employed. I had an opportunity of wit- 

 nessing this, and it was done exactly in 

 this way. 



Picking out a tree as close to the water's 

 edge as possible, the beaver proceeded to 

 work. Raising himself on his hind legs, 

 he rested his fore feet against the part of 

 the tree nearest him, not taking the tree in 

 his arms, as most illustrations picture it, 

 but placing one foot above and one below 

 the spot where he intended cutting. In 

 that position the body did not, like that of 

 the stuffed beaver, maintain a uniform 



