THE WILD LIFE OF LAKE SUPERIOR 



183 



Photograph by George Shiras, 3d 



FELLING A TREE UNDER DIFFICULTIES 



A beaver cuts through the average tree in a space between 18 and 25 inches above the 

 ground. After cutting on the opposite side this beaver had to finish the job while seated on 

 a log. Note its resemblance to a large muskrat (see page 194). 



ters it was found that the buck was suf- 

 fering from an injury to the spine and 

 was unable to stand. 



Recognizing the rarity of such a cap- 

 ture, a regular attendant was placed in 

 charge, and daily it was fed and watered 

 in a reclining position. After a month it 

 recovered sufficiently to walk about, and 

 by spring was in good condition. 



DEER WOULD NOT ALLOW KEEPER TO 

 CHANGE HIS COAT 



Then an odd thing happened. The 

 faithful caretaker, on approaching the 

 stall one morning, was surprised at the 

 buck showing the greatest terror, plung- 

 ing about in a way to threaten new in- 

 juries. Retiring at once, the question 

 arose as to the cause. Remembering that 

 for the first time he had not worn his 

 winter fur coat, it was replaced, and the 

 buck became docile at once, showing how 

 animals, usually dependent upon scent, 

 may associate an outward garment with 

 identity. Possibly this old fur coat had 

 an odor of its own ! 



Then the idea of establishing a herd of 

 white deer suggested itself, and with this 

 in view four red does were captured and 

 placed in a good-sized range with the 

 white buck. 



A WHITE FAWN FOUND 



A few weeks later the project was fa- 

 vored by finding a female white fawn, a 

 day or two old, in a thicket near the 

 island hotel. With careful attention and 

 in the company of another fawn, it grew 

 rapidly. 



During the earlier months this fawn 

 had the usual row of white spots on the 

 back and sides, and although there was 

 no difference between these and the body 

 color, they were conspicuous in the same 

 way that satin needlework in a single 

 color may carry a varied pattern (see 

 page 147). 



The following year one of the red does 

 in the inclosure bore an albino doe fawn, 

 which lacked, however, the brocaded 

 white spots characterizing the previous 

 one. 



