page [16] (seq. 17)

16
1900
Feb. 21
to Mar. 10
(11)

An exhibit by the Province of Quebec attracts
much notice and I would visit the show
to see it alone. A large trough filled with
water and containing various landing places
is occupied by four Beavers. I never saw
these creatures alive before. Outside of
the cage and near by is a large pile of
poplar sticks, 2 or 3 in. in diameter and
about a foot long, with some poplar
twigs lying close by. Above there is a sign
"Beaver Food". In the water several
of these sticks are floating, and the
Beavers feed on the bark. I saw one
skillfully drag one of these sticks on to
a shelf above the water and then, hold-
ing the end of his two front paws, knaw
at the back with his long sharp teeth.
I stooped down by him and saw his
teeth chisel into the bark. I even felt
of the broad, flat tail, and it felt like
hard gristle. Sometimes when the Beaver
is swimming, he raises his tail out
of the water by curving it upwards.
There is more flexibility to it than I
imagined.

Near by are some sections of tree trunks
showing the work of the Beaver in cutting
down trees. A solemn Indian in costume
is always stationed by this exhibit to
see that visitors do not trouble the ani-
mals. Nothing at the show is more interesting than this.

16
1900
Feb. 21
to Mar. 10
(11)

An exhibit by the Province of Quebec attracts
much notice and I would visit the show
to see it alone. A large trough filled with
water and containing various landing places
is occupied by four Beavers. I never saw
these creatures alive before. Outside of
the cage and near by is a large pile of
poplar sticks, 2 or 3 in. in diameter and
about a foot long, with some poplar
twigs lying close by. Above there is a sign
"Beaver Food". In the water several
of these sticks are floating, and the
Beavers feed on the bark. I saw one
skillfully drag one of these sticks on to
a shelf above the water and then, hold-
ing the end of his two front paws, knaw
at the back with his long sharp teeth.
I stooped down by him and saw his
teeth chisel into the bark. I even felt
if the broad, flat tail, and it felt like
hard gristle. Sometimes when the Beaver
is swimming, he raises his tail out
of the water by curving it upwards
There is more flexibility to it than I
imagined.

Near by are some sections of tree trunks
showing the work of the Beaver in cutting
down trees. A solemn Indian in costume
is always stationed by this exhibit to
see that visitors do not trouble the ani-
mals. Nothing at the show is more interesting than this.