Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1901 — A Beaver’S Toilet. [ARTICLE]

A Beaver’S Toilet.

It is an interesting sight to watch the outlaw at his evening toilet. To begin with, instead of sitting up with his large, flat, ribbed tall protruding behind him, he tucked it forward between his hind legs and sat upon it. Then with his hand he carefully combed his long hair, using both hands at the same ti me. There were many places, however, that could not be reached in this way, for his arms are very short and his body very large, so he combed these otherwise inaccessible places with his hind feet, using first one and then the other. The entire operation was performed with the utmost deliberation and care and occupied more than a quarter of an hour, so that by the time it was completed daylight had almost vanished. My presence did not appear to disturb him in the least, though I sat on the ground within three feet of him ths<t I might the better note his various altitudes, for it is not often one has an opportunity of watching a beaver at such close range. •