where the beaver lives, and he needs a thick, warm coat to protect his body."

"Did you ever see an animal with such a strange-looking tail?" cried Frank. "It is long, broad, and flat. I think it looks like a trowel."

"So it does. We shall find too that it is just fitted for the work the beaver has to do."

"If we had a real beaver to look at, we could see that his tail is covered with a dark, scaly skin.

"Here is a picture of his skull. The teeth are like the squirrel's teeth and the rabbit's teeth, only larger and stronger."

"Shall we put the beaver with the gnawing animals, Miss Dix?"

"That is where the beaver belongs. His broad, chisel-shaped teeth show that he gnaws. The beaver is a gnawer."

sharp,

"How many toes has the beaver?" asked Ray.

66

Oh, I know! I have counted them. There are five toes on each foot. Each toe has a sharp, curved nail."

"Does the beaver swim? His hind feet are webbed like the duck's feet."

"The beaver is very fond of water, and swims easily."

"Can you tell what the beaver eats, Bessie?"

"I think his teeth show that he eats vegetable food," replied Bessie.

"You are right. The beaver eats the bark and leaves of the willow, birch, poplar, and alder trees; also plants which he finds in the water.

"With his strong, chisel-shaped teeth he cuts down young trees very easily. He uses these trees in making dams and in building houses."

"Does the beaver make dams, - real dams, like the one in the river near the -mill?"

"Yes, indeed; sometimes the beaver dams are stronger than those made by

man."

"Oh! Miss Dix, will you please tell us how the beaver builds dams and makes houses?"

Where does the beaver live?

What kind of body has the beaver, and with what is it covered?

Describe the tail; the legs; the feet.

What shape is the beaver's head?

Describe the teeth.

What does the beaver eat?

How does he get his food?

Read what you have written about the beaver.

Here we see the busy beavers at work. See how they use their tools!

"Tools? Does a beaver use tools?"

To do the beaver's work I think one would need a set of tools. Now think; can't you name the beaver's tools?

"Do you mean his teeth, his tail, and his feet?"

His

Most certainly I do. His sharp, chiselshaped teeth he uses for a hatchet. broad, flat, scaly

tail serves as a

pounder. With it

he packs and

smooths the mud which he uses in building houses and dams. His tail serves too for a rudder. His forefeet, or paws, are his hands. His webbed, hind feet are his oars.

Don't you think he has a good set of tools with which to do his work?

As one sees in the picture, many beavers do their work together. Late in the summer, or early in the fall, they form into groups or companies.

Beavers like to live in the woods, by small, clear rivers and creeks, or near a large spring.

After choosing a place, I think this is what they say to one another: "Here are trees and water- just what are needed. The water is low, but we can build a dam. After the dam is made we shall have all the water we want."

Soon several beavers are at work gnawing down birch trees and willow trees. They begin to gnaw about a foot and a half above the ground, and gnaw around the tree which they seek to have fall into the water, or very near it.

"How do they get the logs to the places where the dam is to be made?"

Do you see that beaver with a stick in his mouth? Now you can tell how he gets the logs and twigs there. Besides,