72 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Jan. i8, 1913 
ing only when the occasion permits to eat out 
of his prison by gnawing through the boards. 
It is an amphibious animal, belonging to 
the same family as the muskrat, an animal 
which it resembles to a distinguishable de¬ 
gree and appears to be but an enlargement of 
its little cousin. It is about two and a half feet 
in length, and I have known them to weigh up to 
seventy pounds, which is the highest coming 
under my notice. The beaver is a singularly 
beautiful animal, provided with a reddish-brown 
fur that is very thick and lustrous, the finer hairs 
close to the skin being protected by so-called 
guard hairs, which are stiller and as a rule 
darker than the inner coat. The most remark¬ 
able feature about this animal is the singularity 
of its conformation. It is the sole member of 
the quadrupeds, having membranes between the 
toes on the hind feet- only and none on the fore 
feet, which supply the place of hands as typified 
in the case of the squirrel. The fore feet are 
small and the hind feet large and powerful, mak¬ 
ing a wonderful swimming apparatus, quite a 
singular feature in this make-up. There are 
strong claws on these hind feet, and it is notable 
that each is provided with an extra claw above 
the second toe which is sharp as a rule, unless 
blunted, and which is evidenth^ used to remove 
bits of wood which might get between their 
teeth while engaged in gnawing. The tail, 
which is shaped oval fashion, is flattened and 
hard. This tail is about twelve to fifteen 
inches in length and half that wide. There 
is no doubt but that this is used for a rud¬ 
der, for when the animal is in motion, it 
swings from right to left in perfect unison with 
the movement of the body and aids the animal 
to attain its speed. It is a myth that the beaver 
uses this tail on which to convey mud and stones 
to his dam, as so-called naturalists of the past 
have exploited in reference to observations of 
this detail. Later on I am going to cull and 
set down what one naturalist noted in this line 
as an example for what has been supposed to be 
the truth. But this tail serves a purpose be¬ 
sides that of an aid to swimming. It is the 
danger signal, and when a sentinel posted on 
guard to watch receives intelligence of prowl¬ 
ers in the neighborhood of a dam, a slap of 
this tail on the surface of the water will cause 
every beaver to stop work and disappear to 
safety. 
Perhaps one of the most wonderful things 
in the conformation of the beaver is the adap¬ 
tability of its teeth to cut into trees in felling 
them. These teeth—it is the front ones of course 
that do the cutting—are hard and will stand any 
amount of rough usage, being covered with an 
enamel that protects the tooth from wear. The 
jaws work in and out when undergoing the 
process of gnawing, and are unusually well de¬ 
veloped for the task, being powerful to a high 
degree. 
The beavers breed in April and May and 
bring forth from two to four in a litter. 
These young .are early taught to cut with their 
teeth small twigs and stems, and throughout the 
summer months undergo a system of training 
in the observation and direction of their parents 
as will fit them for the busy life before them. 
_Nor do the young leave the parents when they 
have attained a likely growth. They stay in 
their parents’ abode until they are three years 
old, and then set out for themselves to build 
dams and breed, the younger ones generally 
choosing a site above that of their elders, but 
so situated as to not affect the other. A curi¬ 
osity lies in the fact that the beaver’s organs 
of reproduction are not discernible from the 
outside, as witnessed in other animals. By rip¬ 
ping open the vent one will first come across 
what is known as the oil stones, two hard ob¬ 
jects which are said to contain a subtle fluid 
used by this animal in massaging his beautiful 
fur when moments of leisure present themselves 
between his arduous toil. Over the oil stones, 
as witnessed in both the male and the female 
gender, lie the castors which contain a certain 
scent that is exuded during the breeding season. 
These castors find a ready sale in the ma.rket 
when properly cured and will bring the trapper 
about six dollars a pound. Men who follow the 
trap line have found that to use this as a scent 
or lure when trapping the beaver is certain of 
making his catch that much the greater, and pre¬ 
pared with a mixture of oil is a worthy addi¬ 
tion to a trapper’s line of scents. Above the 
castors is found the organ of reproduction. Like 
most other animals the beaver feels no mating- 
desire until the proper breeding season. Of a 
gregarious nature during the summer months, 
the beaver gains back its activity when the fall 
months are at hand. 
At some time in the early part of Septem¬ 
ber they commerice operations upon their dams 
and houses. These houses are built more or 
less conical, much on the order in a perfect 
state as that of the muskrat, but higher and 
more staunch in its make-up. About ten or 
twelve animals find room in one of these houses, 
which are practically immune from the chill of 
the most bitter winter weather. After the houses 
have been constructed they begin work on their 
dam. This dam is generally at the head of some 
rapids or shallow water, so that when the dam 
is put in, it will form a deadwater in the part 
which lies above. The idea of forming- this 
deadwater, which is usually five or six feet in 
its depth, is to protect their winter’s supply of 
eatables from freezing in. Often where there 
is deep water without the need of the forma¬ 
tion of a dam to assure such, the beaver will 
make a hole in a bank with the entrance under 
water, and sloping gradually up above the water 
and into a dry chamber where he stays in the 
winter. But where such circumstances do not 
afford themselves, the dam is a necessity. 
In making this iron barrier, the beavers have 
a task on their “hands” which is quite stupendous, 
but with such unswerving energy do these little 
creatures go at it that it is only a matter of 
time before completion is assured. If trees stand 
at the site of their operations, they are felled 
in such a manner as to fall directly across the 
shallows or rapids. With amazing speed these 
trees are cut into and dropped, one lying across 
the other so as to form a compact mass when 
the stones, mud, clay, grass and leaves are 
packed in with them. If trees suitable for the 
purpose of a foundation are not at hand, the 
beavers will go further up-stream and drop trees, 
cutting them into suitable lengths so as to make 
transportation possible, then they float them 
down and eventually by aid of their teeth and 
paws, and all working in unison, drag them into 
place, fixing them into position parallel with the 
stream. Then all variety of debris is floated 
down from above, the pressure of the water 
working this into place to form a solid mass, 
which when the frost has permeated it makes it 
of the nature of iron in durability. With their 
teeth and paws the beavers do all this work, 
aided by their great swimming capacity. They 
are very wise indeed in their location of this 
dam and build according to the power of the 
stream. Thus if the stream is swift, with a 
very strong current, such as would have notable 
effect upon the structure, the dam is built on 
what is called the convex curve, or that is to 
say the curve is up-stream; thus it will readily 
impress itself upon the mind that the strength 
of such an affair is redoubled. But where the 
flow of the water has little or no force, it is 
often built straight across the stream, or as has 
been noted many times, the curve is down¬ 
stream. 
[to be concluded.] 
Maine Shooting Notes. 
To Frank T. Wadsworth, of Eastport, Me., 
goes the distinction of having shot the largest 
bull moose in the State this season. The animal, 
which is a splendid specimen, was shot at Tomah 
Station. 
The moose weighs between 1,100 and i,2O0' 
pounds and was brought down by Mr. Wads¬ 
worth at a distance of about seventy paces. The 
animal has a splendid head with web antlers, 
having a breadth of eighteen inches. One of 
the antlers has fourteen points and the other 
twelve, while the width of the horns from tip 
to tip measures fifty inches. The guides in the 
neighborhood of Tomah claim that it is by far 
the largest moose ever shot in that region. 
Arthur C. Welch, of Wayne, a member of 
the United States Geological Survey, has the 
honor, it is believed, of shooting the largest buck 
deer secured in Madrid during the past season. 
The giant of the forest had a twelve-point 
head and weighed in the vicinity of 300 pounds. 
Mr. Welch also got a nine-point buck, and his 
friend Nelson Hamden, of Belgrade Lakes, got 
two bucks of six and eight points each. 
One of the finest elk heads ever seen in 
Biddeford was taken to the H. F. Gillette sum¬ 
mer home at the Pool recently. The specimen 
was perfect in every particular and will prove 
a very handsome ornament in the large hall of 
the Gillette residence. 
The head had twelve perfect points and a 
spread of forty-two inches, while it was forty- 
three inches from the base of the antlers to the 
tips. 
The Fire Spell. 
\\'hat magic lies in embers glowing red, 
In curling smoke, or twisting tongues of flame. 
To bring to mind some word someone has said. 
Flash on the sight some long-forgotten name? 
We gaze and gaze, and, ah, the things we see; 
The past so vivid and the future dim— 
The roseate younger days of you and me, 
The days to come, so vague, so gray, so grim! 
It holds us all, this witchery of fire; 
No wonder naked savages of old 
Warmed at and worshiped its weird, leaping spire. 
And read the secrets its red depths enfold. 
—Walter Juan Davis in Denver Intelligencer. 
