1897] Bæveren i Norge, dens Udbredelse og Levemaade. H7 



Of late years, in 1891, a few individuals immigrated from 

 Sætersclalen, and were still seen at various places in the valley 

 during the Spring of 1892. On the 15th July of that year, one 

 individual was killed on the farm Kvæstad. No authentic news 

 of its having been seen subsequently has been received. 



Røldal, situated in the southern portion of Hardanger (Bergen 

 stift). A few individuals also established themselves in the Røldal 

 (valley) in 1893, and traces of their activity were visible at various 

 spots. One loclge was constructed during the Autumn in the Val- 

 dal (valley). One dead specimen was found there in 1894, but the 

 Beaver has not been seen there since that time. 



C. The Life and Habits of the Beaver, in Norway. 



Food. The chief food of the Beaver consists of the fresh 

 bark of foliferous trees (especially of Fojndus tremula), together 

 with the accompanying bast, especially of the twigs. All parts of 

 the latter are consumed, the other branches barked. The coarse 

 bark of the trunk is, as a rule, rejected. For winter use, small 

 branches with the bark on are submerged in the water in front of 

 the loclge. Bark that has been gnawed of! is not collected for 

 winter provender. 



Work on Land. Most trees are felled within the distance of 

 a hundrecl paces from the waterside. Less frequently are materials 

 fetched from a distance up to 300 métres, and occasionally high 

 up in steep, and not very accessible cliffs. 



Beaten tracks lead from the lodge to the scene of its opera- 

 tions ashore. 



It has a longer beat on the bank. and fells trees many hun- 

 dred métres away from the lodge. 



Daily Labour. Immediately after the break up of the ice in 

 the Spring, it commences to search for food, and its spoor is not 

 seldom seen in the snow. 



Work on the lodge is mainly carried on in the Autumn, and 

 almost exclusively at night; but only very seldom does it allow 

 it seif to be observed while at its task. 



