102 
RODENTS. 
On this point Mr. Martin writes that “ the beaver-loclge is generally included in the 
list of marvels reserved for the investigation of those who visit beaver-districts, and 
yet no greater disappointment awaits the inquirer than the first inspection of one. 
Somehow the minds of all lovers of natural history become affected by the fabulous 
accounts concerning this structure, and it is a shock to stand for the first time 
before a pile of twigs, branches, and logs, heaped in disorder upon a small dome of 
mud, and to learn that this constitutes the famous lodge. Of course the superficial 
glance does not convey all that can be learnt in connection with this work, but it 
does most completely disillusionise the mind. On breaking through the upper 
walls, the interior is found to be similar to the general type of an animal’s sleeping 
apartment, and has scarcely any distinguishing characteristic.” 
Both dams and lodges are made more or less impervious to water by the 
addition of a quantity of mud, which is plastered on by the beavers with the aid of 
the fore-feet, and not, as is often supposed, with the assistance of the tail; the latter 
organ acting only as a rudder in swimming. The length of a beaver-dam may 
occasionally be as much as one hundred and fifty or two hundred yards, and their 
ponds may cover many acres. Frequently a formation of peat commences round 
the edges of the ponds, and this may extend over the whole area, converting it into 
a swampy tract known as a beaver-meadow. A considerable part of the city of 
Montreal is built upon such beaver-meadows. 
In summer beavers generally forsake the neighbourhood of their lodges to 
travel up or down the stream; occasionally, as already mentioned, taking consider¬ 
able journeys on land. With the advent of early autumn they return to their 
winter-quarters, and at once set about the necessary repairs to the dam and lodges, 
and the collection of a supply of food for the winter. 
Commercial uses The beaver is hunted in North America not only for its valuable 
and Hunting 1 . f ur? but likewise for the substance known as castoreum, which is 
contained in two elongated glands at the hinder part of the body; while its flesh is 
also used as an article of food. Castoreum is a waxy substance with a peculiar 
smell, and is used in medicine, although chiefly on the Continent. It sells, accord¬ 
ing to Mr. Poland, from thirty-eight to forty-five shillings per lb., and no less 
than 1486 lbs. of this substance were sold in London alone in the year 1891. 
Formerly the great demand for beaver-fur was for the manufacture of hats, 
but since the supersession of silk for beaver-hair in this manufacture, the fur 
has been used for more ordinary purposes. Mr. Poland states that the number of 
beaver-skins sold by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1891 was 63,419, while in the 
year 1743 upwards of 127,080 were imported into Rochelle alone. The price, 
according to the same writer, varies from 5s. 3d. to 6s. 9d. per skin. The incisor teeth 
of the beaver were used by the North American Indians, and also by some of the 
ancient inhabitants of the Old World, as cutting instruments, the bases being fixed 
into a wooden handle with the aid of twine or thongs. 
Before the advance of civilisation a large number of beavers were killed in 
America by the native Indians for the sake of their skins and flesh, but the 
slaughter was not such as to have any marked effect on their numbers. Some 
appear to have been taken in wooden traps, but the favourite method was to attack 
a lodge in the months of January and February. A party of Indians—male and 
