Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/31



HE baby Beaver is the miracle of the whole animal world. He is the only youngster I know of who has a natural desire for hard work. This unusual little fellow is industrious from the time he gets control of his muscles. While he is as full of fun as young chipmunk, the habits of his forefathers and his natural instinct for work mark him as a rather serious-minded youngster.

In appearance, the baby Beaver is a soft reddish-brown ball of fur, instead of being covered with the coarse chestnut hairs as the old beavers are. He is about the size of a rat. His eyes are as bright as new shoe-buttons, and his little paws are very active for a baby's.

Usually five are born in a litter. Before the nursing period is over, the mother brings them twigs about the size of a lead pencil. They sit