And now, have
you anything more to say about birds and flowers? I can never weary of
hearing about such interesting objects."
"I promised to tell you about the beavers, my lady," replied Mrs. Frazer.
"Oh yes, about the beavers that make the dams and the nice houses, and cut
down whole trees. I am glad you can tell me something about those curious
creatures; for mamma bought me a pretty picture, which I will show you, if
you please," said the little girl. "But what is this odd-looking, black
thing here? Is it a dried fish? It must be a black bass. Yes, nurse, I am
sure it is."
The nurse smiled, and said: "It is not a fish at all, my dear; it is a
dried beaver's tail. I brought it from the back lakes when I was at home,
that you might see it. See, my lady, how curiously the beaver's tail is
covered with scales; it looks like some sort of black leather, stamped in
a diaper pattern. Before it is dried it is very heavy, weighing three or
four pounds. I have heard my brothers and some of the Indian trappers say,
that the animal makes use of its tail to beat the sides of the dams and
smooth the mud and clay, as a plasterer uses a trowel. Some people think
otherwise, but it seems well suited from its shape and weight for the
purpose, and, indeed, as the walls they raise seem to have been smoothed
by some implement, I see no reason to disbelieve the story.
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