The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-01-30

TUE following article Is sent by Ool
Il onel Richard Irby, Of Ashland,
Va:
Some months since you were kind
enough TO publish an article l sent you.
entitled: ''The B aver in Virginia"
4 number of the most intelligent gen
tLemen in the State thanked me fer
writing is. In it a very interesting
question was raised in regard to the
use the beavers make Of their broad
HoWel shaped tails. Ths use by them
Of this appendage was conceded by all
"a enc respect, that is, to give an alarm
Of danger oy enc to others at play or
at work. / believe they also use 1t like
the wild duck ufes its wings, to show
its exhilirREion when q number are
sporticg themselves together, and the
noise made is similar. But the editor
Of "The Naturalist" disputes the CLAIM
heretofore made that the beavers Use
their tails to carry mud TO their Dams,
and then, as tro wells, to plaster or ap
ply the mud on the dams, which, In
Virginia, Il ley build so rapidly ano
scientifically, as l attempted to de
scribe in my article, alluded to above.
believe they did make such use be
cause the very shape of their tails in
dicRted their purpose, and The fulsh Of
their dams show that the work on
them mus have been done in some
other way than with their feet, es
some claimed they only use. Bit IS
beavers in Virginia, 80 far as my OBJ
servati0n and Knowledge exrended,
never work on their dams ID the day
dme-caFrying on work wholly at
night never could positive assure
myself of their mode OF working, ell
though I have lain so near n m lha'
Icould hear them cutting down the
saplings with their teeth. Neither
could I get the proof from others Wh
had long snd p9rsis emily watched
them, not particularly TO establish the
point raised, but to kill and trap them.
/ was, therefore, much graf fed to read
IN the last numOer OF the Ledger
Monthly the personal otsarvatlons Of
DR.. Edgerton r Young, OF Canada,
who has spent many years IN Manitoba
as a missionary to the Red IadIans. l
had the pleasure OF meeting him some
time since and from what cav and
heard Of him I have every rea on to
believe that he is truthful and reliable
He cav the beavers in broad daylight
at work.
Task you TO copy his very interest
ing account of what be considers the
most intelligent of ali quodrupeds. To
me il is conclusive proof of the point
claimed BY myself and others
D2. YOUNG 8 ACCOUNT
For years is has been a great pleas
ure to me to watch and study the hab
its and characteristics of many ami
mails, and endeavor to compare the
perseverance, intelligence or industry
Of one with another, and, as q result,
1 have no hesitancy in saying as fer as
my observations have gone, the beaver
heads the list. Marvelously C aver were
some e my dogs. And living, as l
did, Wit b dogs that ploughed my fields,
narrowed in my grain, dragged no me
my wood for mission, church and
school house, and we're my gallant
krain on those long journeys of hun
dreds of miles, and then often my bed
fellows at night in the wintry camp IL
the snow, ! saw instances of sagacity
and intelligence that won my almira
ton and bound very cloeely to me ny
four-footed friends. But in one days.
watching Of beavers at work, and then
In the study and examination Of their
dams and HOUSES. I have seen that
which amazed and %astonished me far
more than the doings of any other Of
the brute creation. OF course, do not
speak Of their love CT affection. Inever