New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-08-23
HOW BEAVERS WORK.
Skill, Ingenuity and Sagacity Dis
plaued by These Animd Engineers.

Now that the beavers. long extinct in many parts
of this country where they formerly dwelt are
beginning to their oldtime haunts. there
Is renewed interest in these Industrious and skful
animal workers. Like bees and ants In the IN
sect world, these members of the animal kingdom
possess abilities which seem to Indicate reasoning
intelligence rather than the mere blind instinct
by which most of the lower animals seem to be
guided solely The skill In the work Of the beavers
Is the marvel of all who have occasion to study
it, but no progressive advance is made. The first
beavers known to were skilful as those
which now build dams and plan for their COM
munity life. Their industry. sagacity and con-
structive ability, however. excite the wonder ana
admiration of those who have paid the least atten-
ton to their work.
few years ago a colony of beavers I'M
known save in the most remote wilds OF this coun-
try but some were preserved in public and private
parks and in surroundings resembling their native
habitats they throve and multiplied. One of these
colonies kept estate in the mountainous
region of Northern New Jersey, but after 1t had
been established along lake for time its mem
oers gradually disappeared. and recently colonies
have been reported in the nearby New Jersey and
Pennsylvania regions where conditions adapted
TO their living They have constructed dams
streams which suitable and appear to have
reclaimed regions from which their ancestors long
ago disappeared. Like reports come from other
parts of the country 1t is probable that had not
substitute found In silk plush for the beaver
fur formerly used in the making OF high hats for
men the beavers would have entirely dsap-
peared. AS late as 1929 sixty thousand beavers
skins were sold by the Hudson's Bay Company in
one year and the demand was so great that re-
lentless warfare kept up by trappers until the
animals almost disappeared. But in the SOS the
demand decreased and comparatively few skins
afterward taken.
Three things appear contribute to the success
ful work of beavers I'm their building of dams and
securing food. They have strong inc1sors. cut
ting teeth. the outer edge of which is hard enamel
and the inner softer material. which away
faster and keeps the edges sharp: with the aid of
their broad tails they can work in an almost up
right POSTURE their short front feet or paws are
almost like hands, and their hind feet long and
powerful, webbed that swimming is easy and
rapid. Their food is almost wholly of barks and
twigs. and to get this they gnaw down trees OF
considerable SIZE and to have the food in readiness
in winter sink the logs and limbs under the water
of the ponds they create After being denuded of
bark. the logs used in the work OF repairing
dams the houses which they make. with their
tops above water. in which as in the dams. sticks.
stones clay and mud ingeniously combined
There is popular idea that beavers their tails
like trowels in plastering clay and mud on their
structures. but this is declared unfounded the
principal use OF the tail is support when
work, especially when gnawins down trees 1t is
also used to slap the surface of the water a
signal of danger when beaver sees peril ap-
preaching before his fellows
While the work of beavers is united to a common
end. 1t is believed that there Is any guiding
spirit in community. but the members of each
family devote themselves TO the work which they
deem most pressing. all animated by a common
purpose 10 complete dam. dig a canal cut down
trees. store up food. build houses OF do something
else for the common good. But they do not live in
communities. but in separate families group Of
families forming a colony, from which members
go to form new colonies. aid being rendered by the
members of the old get the new one started
Charles G. D. Roberts. in writing of the work OF
the beaver in his new book, The House in the
Water" describes how observer fortunate
enough to catch sight OF q beaver with a stick OF