110 
WILD AMERICANS 
the pond, carefully hidden, and quietly watching. 
Soon two dark beavers as large as dogs slipped out 
of the water. They were sleek and shiny, and very 
graceful. They had small eyes, small ears, feet with 
claws on them—and strange tails. 
“Look! His tail is flat like a trowel !’ 1 Buck ex¬ 
claimed, in an excited whisper. 
“Sh-h-h,” cautioned Mother. “He uses that to 
plaster mud on his houses and dams . 11 
Uncle Ely and Father turned at once toward Moth¬ 
er, shaking their heads. “No, Mary, you are mis¬ 
taken there, 1 ' Father declared, “beavers do not use 
their flat tails to plaster mud. They carry mud in 
their front paws, holding it against their breasts as 
they swim, and pat it over the sticks with their front 
paws also. A beaver’s tail is used only for swim¬ 
ming.'’ 
“Are you sure?” Mother whispered. 
Uncle Ely answered for Father. “Yes, he’s right, 
Mary. However, many people have your idea. I 
have even seen it in books. People once thought 
beavers did use their tails for trowels, but this has 
been proven incorrect.” 
The beavers soon discovered the spot where Un¬ 
cle Ely had removed a stick or two from their dam. 
