There are beavers, called, by the Indians, _old bachelors_, who live by themselves, build no houses, and work at no dams, but shelter themselves in holes.

The usual method of taking these is by traps, formed of iron, or logs, and baited with branches of poplar.
"According to the Indians, the beaver is much given to jealousy.

If a strange male approaches the cabin, a battle immediately ensues.

Of this the female remains an unconcerned spectator, careless as to which party the law of conquest may assign her.

The Indians add that the male is as constant as he is jealous, never attaching himself to more than one female.
"The most common way of taking the beaver is that of breaking up its house, which is done with trenching tools, during the winter, when the ice is strong enough to allow of approaching them; and when, also, the fur is in its most valuable state.
"Breaking up the house, however, is only a preparatory step.