me and domesticated,
particularly when suddenly startled.

The beaver, says Captain Hardy, travels a long distance from his house
in search of materials, both for building and food. He mentions having
seen the stumps of some trees which had been felled, at least
three-quarters of a mile from the beaver lodges. Its towing power in
the water, and that of traction on dry land, is astonishing. The
following account shows the coolness and enterprise of the animals,
described by a witness to the fact:--The narrator having constructed a
raft for the purpose of poling round the edge of the lake to get at the
houses of the beaver, which were built in a swampy savannah, otherwise
inaccessible, it had been left in the evening moored at the edge of the
lake, close to the camp, and about a quarter of a mile from the nearest
beaver's house, the poles lying on it. Next morning, on going down to
the raft, the poles were missing; so, cutting fresh ones, he started
with the Indians towards the beaver village. On reaching their abodes,
one of the poles was found deposited on the top of the houses.

In a community of beavers there are frequently some who appear to do no
work, and are called by the Canadian trappers _Les paresseux_, or
Idlers. They live apart from the rest, taking up their abodes in long
tunnels, which they excavate. Several inhabit the same burrow; and
being males, the idea is that they have been conquered in the combats
which take place among the males when seeking their mates, and thus,
like monks of old, have retired from the world,--or perhaps it may be
only for a period, till they have regained sufficient courage and
strength to sally forth, and commence a happier existence with the
partner of their choice. They are far more careless of their safety
than the other beavers, and are thus easily caught by the trappers.

The body of the beaver contains a curious odoriferous substance, called
by the trappers barkstone, but more scientifically "castor," or
"castoreum." It is contained in two little bags about the size of a
hen's egg, and is of a brownish, unctuous consistency. At one time it
was supposed to possess valuable medicinal properties. It is now,
however, chiefly employed by perfumers. The beavers themselves are
strangely attracted by this substance, and when scenting it at a
distance will invariably make their way to it. It is said that the
inhabitants of a particular lodge go forth, and having rid