themselves of
their superabundant castoreum at a little distance, return home; when
the beavers of another lodge, scenting the castoreum, proceed to the
same spot, and covering it over with a layer of earth and leaves,
deposit their own castoreum upon the heap. After a time, the former
beavers go through the same process; and this is continued until a mound
of three or four feet in height has been raised. It is difficult to
account for the object of this strange proceeding. It was not, however,
till of late years that the sagacious Indians discovered that the
castoreum was a certain bait for the animals themselves. Formerly, the
bait they employed was a piece of green aspen, beaten up, and placed
near the trap. At length an Indian tried whether a male might not be
caught by adding some of the castoreum. By that time steel traps had
been introduced, instead of the clumsy wooden traps before used. Not
only were the males caught, but the females also; and the trappers were
now able with their steel traps to catch vast numbers of the infatuated
animals. It is said that the creatures, when perceiving the scent, will
sit upright, snuffing about in every direction, and squealing with
excitement. The younger animals, however, are those chiefly caught.
The old ones are often too cunning; and it is affirmed that, instead of
touching the bait, they will cover up the trap with mud and stones till
a mound has been raised, and then, depositing their superabundant
castoreum upon it, take their departure.

We must conclude our account by again quoting Captain Hardy. Of the
infatuation of this animal for castoreum he saw several instances. "A
trap was fastened by its steel chain to a stake, to prevent the beaver,
when caught, taking it away. It slipped, however, and the beaver swam
away with the trap, and it was looked upon as lost. Two nights
afterwards he was again taken in a trap, with the other fast on his
thigh. Another time a beaver, passing over a trap to get the castoreum,
had his hind-leg broken. With his teeth he cut the broken leg off, and
went away. It was supposed that he would not come again; but two nights
afterwards he was found fast in a trap--in each case tempted by the
castoreum. The stake was always licked, or sucked, clean. The
substance seems to act as a soporific, as the creatures, after tasting
it, always remain a day without coming out of their houses. So wary
generally are the beavers, that