The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-26
BEAVER PelTS ARE MUCH
IN DEMAND FOR GARMENTS
ScME rriNS Asour FuR. BEAR.
ING RODENT, WHICH MAY
SOON st KILLED.


salN killed IN Michigan. under certain
restrictions, after the first of the year
is the larSes, Of the bearing ro-
dents. Perhaps no animal In the world
has been more widely utilized. for as
a protection from cold the use OF its
relt dates 10 primitive man. The
rarest peltage is pure white. fawn
and brown sprinkled with siivery hair.
Less than a score OF such pelts have
been found in an expectation OF l00.-
oo0 skins. Black beaver are more
abundant Generally the color ranges
from pale yellowish- brown 10 chest
nut. The body measures from IL inches
TO three and half feet in length and
that paddle shaped tail covered with
scale. is from nine 10 II inches in
length.
The external features Of the beaver
are among its chief characteristics.
beginning with its wonderful teeth and
ending with its perfectly unique tail.
The inc.sor teeth are strong and well
developed, and set i'm "A circular sock
et. The sharp teeth were used as cut
ting instruments by the Indians, who
also attach much value 10 white skins,
converting them into medicine bags.
The beavers head resembles that of
a rat. though the nose is flatter and
makes the head appear shorter and
broader. The eyes are dark blue and
small m proportion 10 the size of the
animal. They are highly convexed,
thus enabling the animal to use them
Under water. The ears are small
quite round, and concealed in the fur
and hair When the peltage is prime.
a shaggy, loose growth Of long hair
covers the head and body to the base
Of the tail, diminishing on the lips, |
eyelids. feet and legs
The anterior feet are so dexterous
as TO favor comparison with the hands |
Of the monkey. The creature uses |
them IN building the dam and the |
'odge and for eXcavating the burrow |
They are also used 10 convey the food |
70 the mouth in truly astonishing |
manner Though the front feet are !
rot usually employed in swimming |
there is a perceptible web joining the
third and fourth digits. which does
rot seem fitted for any apparent pur-
pose, unless il might be To facilitate
he handling of mud in the plaster
ing OF the lodges or dams.
The powerful hind feet, with the
development of web extending 10 the
extreme points. afford the ideal model
'or aquatic life. The large heel pad
and strong nails enable the animal
-hen on land to stand upright firm
V. position generally assumed when
II work. ON the second toe is a most
double claw or nail. which
apparently Is only used for. combing
he fur
The gait Of the beaver is waddling
nd SLOW, owing TO the shortness OF its
limbs and to the outward direction
which is given to its heels To enable
Is feet more efficiently to fulfll the
JUNCTION OF paddles In swimming. The
oes alone Of the anterior feet ard the
urface Of the sole in the postcrior are
ppA'u w lIit RIpuIlu III WdlhillS.
The awkwarGness of it's appearance
\ this action is, moreover. height
ned by the clumsiness of its figure
nd by the difficulty which 1t seems 20
Experience in dragging after II its
tail, generally trailing upon
he ground though sometimes is
lightly curved upward, and is occa-
ionally moved in Il direction from
ide To side. In the water. however.
his member becomes highly useful,
9th as paddle and a rudder. To urge
onward and To direct il I'm its course.
mature beaver weighs from 40 to 90
ounds and it's life is from Is to 20
ears.
The animal prefers the northern side
the stream for the advantage Of
le sun. and, when possible takes the
lnk Of an island rather than that of
ne mainland. as IL affords greater Sc
urity from attacks. In this selection,
oNever, It's instinct frequently mis-
ads IL, az IL has been known to build
D situations where ii has been unable
, procure food, and where IL has, con-
persisted from starvation.