Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-15
A CANADIAN BEAVER.
An Intelligent Animal That Made q
Most Interesting Pet.

An Intelligent Animal Tint Made a
Most Interesting Pet.
From the London Spectator.
Buff, Canadian beaver. was caught
in trap IA. Lovesick Lake. Peterborough
county, Ontario, in 1863 He was then n
very fine young beaver about eighteen
months old, and very little hurt having
been caught by two of the fingers of his
left hand 1 say hand because they US
their paws the squirrel does. handling
everyt hing before putting it in the mouth.
Buff soon quite tame. that the
trappers could stroke and pat him. and he
Sc med to like it very much They gave
him some bread for breakfast. which he
ate with satisfaction, sign;fying that he
wanted more by making a shifting sound.
accompanied by a plaintive cry After he
was satisfied he made his toilet as cat
would, and then went to sleep on blanket.
When camp was broken up Buff was
taken to a farmhouse. the home of one of
the trappers, and put into a closet to spend
the first night. But about IL o'clock h"
got restless and went upon an exploring
expedition, cutting his way through the
door into the kitchen, and thence wander
ing all over the lower part of the house. 1t
was easy to trace his trail. as tell-tale
signs in the shape of chairs and tables
minus leg, perhaps two, were strewn in
every direction. He was shut up again,
but cut his way out once more; this time.
being beaten with a small switch, he thun-
dered upon the floor with his tail, uttering
very pitfful cry. AS 1T was quite evident
that he could not be kept in the house,
small stone house was built for him in the
yard, and he was thenceforth kept there at
night, while he had full liberty during the
day. He was very fond of bread, and 1t
was always pleasant to hear his sounds of
satisfaction after he had eaten After
eating he would dress his whiskers and
coat, not permitting the least trace of his
meal to be found upon him. Buff was
quite an attraction in the neighborhood.
and numbers of people came to see him.
He liked this little attention. as he was al
cause his visitors were curious to see him
eat 1t. There was a small pond of water
about two hundred feet from the house.
and the boys used to take him to it daily;
first. however, having fastened a small
rope around each hind-foet. Buff would
plunge in headlong and swim under water
till he came to the end of hts tether. when
he would come to the surface and swim
quickly back to the shallow water. where
he would sit and wash himself. using his
hands in scratching. rubbing and arrang-
ing his coat and whiskers. He would then
leave the water and sit upon the bank,
where he would carefully comb himself
until not the least trace of dust remained
upon his superb coat He became SO ac-
Gus toned to this routine that it was not
necessary for the boys to accompany him
to his bath. as he could be trusted any
where. although they always went for him.
as he absolutely refused to come home
alone much preferring company upon this
part. at least, Of his daily run. When the
autumn came little Buff began to grow
restless and uneasy. Perhaps some instinct
told him that the long cold winter of the
Canadian backwoods was approaching. and
he. seeing that he had no wood to build
warm. snug house, longed for his wild
home on the little lake with his brothers.
away from civilization and the haunts of
men, He walked aimlessly about most of
the day, eating carelessly. not with his
usual gusto. A large sugar kettle was
nYYd cd " a
so as to make sn all artificial pond for
him. He was also given a quantity of his
favorite poplar wood. He at once saw
what this meant, and set to work, cutting