. Castorologia, or The history and traditions of the Canadian beaver. Beavers. 170 CASTOROLOGIA. facts seem utterl}- overlooked that the beaver is not yet domesticated and that innumerable attempts in America and Europe have proved failures. To be sure, if the beaver is not too closely hunted it will live the longer in any locality, but the question is only one of a few years at most, and before this century closes we may find the last survivors within a railed enclosure of some zoological garden, at- tracting the attention of the populace. Unfortunately the beaver does not make a very attract
. Castorologia, or The history and traditions of the Canadian beaver. Beavers. 170 CASTOROLOGIA. facts seem utterl}- overlooked that the beaver is not yet domesticated and that innumerable attempts in America and Europe have proved failures. To be sure, if the beaver is not too closely hunted it will live the longer in any locality, but the question is only one of a few years at most, and before this century closes we may find the last survivors within a railed enclosure of some zoological garden, at- tracting the attention of the populace. Unfortunately the beaver does not make a very attractive exhibit, for though its works even in a small enclosure are very wonderful, its nocturnal habits disappoint the masses who naturally expect to find it at least cutting down trees, if not building lodges and dams for the public edification. In close captivity the animals soon be- come tame, and their nature and condition change as the conse- quence of the sudden alterations—loss of exercise, monotony of surroundings, and entire novelty in diet. They seldom are seen ex- cept towards the dusk of evening, when they come out for food, and even the older specimens are comparatively shy. Indian corn is a staple food in many zoological gardens, but cabbage, carrots, and in fact almost the whole range of culinary vegetables are greedily de- voured by the captive beavers. Gradually the lustre of the fur dis- appears, the teeth lose their keen edge and the energy flags, till the industrious aquatic engineer of popular conception becomes a merely animated specimen apparently waiting admission to the ''atelier " of the \\'^^^-/^-"^'^^''^ 'no person allowed within the beaver enclosure.'. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Martin, Horace T. Montreal, W. Drysdale
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbeavers, bookyear1892
