Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-03-23
A Beaver Family.

cared to see bear in the woods. even
when under the protection of Uncle Hen
ry and Roger, she required no teasing to
get ready and 60 along with them.
They walked through the field and
across the back pasture, and then entered
the woods, where there was no path, and
they had TO pick their way slo "ly through
bushes and over old logs They came TO
one little brook where fallen tree made
bridge for them, and then little later
to another brook, which they did not
cross. They followed along the side of
this brook until Katherine began to get
tired.
owe are almost there" said Uncle
Henry, land I'll carry you home if you
are tired. Be careful, Roger, and make
no noise now"
They crept forward very softly, and al
last, when they were on the side OF hill
which looked down on the little brook,
they paused while Uncle Henry went
ahead and peered through the bushes.
When he beckoned they ran to him,
but he raised his hand to warn them to be
very quiet.
"See |" he whispered. "Look there"
Down beside the brook, only a few
rods away from them, were half dozen
strange animals. busy on the bank or
splaShing round IN a little pond formed by
the brook. They were dark in color,
with thick bodies and short legs, and they
had broad, flat tails half as long as their
bodies.
"Oh, what are they?" whispered Kath-
crime, who was too excited to keep still.
81 know" answered Roger. "They
are beavers"
"Yes," said Uncle Henry. at is
beaver family. Their sense OF smell is
much better than their hearing, and as the
wind is the other way, we have a good
chance to watch them if we are careful.
They are not at all common in this section
now. Do you see the dam they have
built OF logs and brush and mud to form
this little pond2 And there is their mouse
on the other side"
ut looks like pile of brush," said
Roger.
"Yes, on the outside. but it is well
made OF poles and mud, so that the room
inside is large and warm shelter in win
ter. II is clean. too, for the beavers are
very neat, and often change the grass and
weeds which form their beds. The only
entrance to the house is long passage
with an opening under the water, and
there is probably second passage from
the house TO another house, or small hid
ing place, Which they have dug out under
the roots OF one OF the trees on the bank
near BY" While he told them about the
dam and the house which the beavers had
made with such wonderful skill and so
much hard work, one OF the larger beav-
ers stood up on its hind legs, using Its
flat tail as prop, and began to gnaw alta |
birch tree. The tree was as large as Un-
Gle Henry'S arm, but IN few moments
The sharp teeth OF the busy animal had
cut il from all sides to a small point in |
the center. Then the beaver gave it
push with its fore paws and Scampered
10 safety, while the small tree came tumb-
ing down. The little beavers came hur-
rying from the water to feast upon the
bark and tender leaves OF the tree, and II
was plain that they greatly enjoyed their
luncheon.
"In the fall" said Uncle Henry, "the
beavers cut down many trees, especially
birch, willow and alder, and pile the
trunks and branches near their house TO |
furnish foSd for the winter. Sometimes |
the, push and drag large logs from d
ong distance through the woods or float
them along through the water. They
even dig canals sometimes to use in col
ectlng their harveSr. Many OF the logs |
hey sink in the water, and in the water |
hey SWIM about under the ice and drag |
the small sticks or bark to their house to
be eaten. They cannot stay under the
water long without coming TO the surface
or going back through the passage 10
heir house for necessary fresh air. :"
"What a lotthey knowr" said Katherine,
as she watched the beaver family at It's
least. The little ones were clinJlns ana
rolling over thelr mother and eacn other
like kittens.
"lndeed they do" said her uncle. "lt
is hard to believe such animals do mol
think, as people do, for their workman
ship and general cunning have long been
the amazement of all who stuIy tneH
haoIts. Some beaver Colonies nave Oeep
found which were hundreds OF years Old.
We are lucky to see this family, Tor theY
do most OF their work IN the night.
Suddenly the mother beaver paused
and looked with innocent, wondering
eyes up the hillside. She had heard some
sound she did not like. In flash she
turned and slipped into the water, and aS
she arched her glossy back and dived TO
the bottom, her broad tail came down up
on the surface with a whacx which sent
the echoes flying through the forest.
1t was plainly warning which the
others understood, and each one ducked
into the water at once There was no
splashing round in playful fashion this
lime, and not one was seen again. They
had no doubt taken refuge in their queer
house, or hurried along under the water
10 a safe hiding-place.
AS they walked slowly back to the
house, Uncle Henry told them many more