hermit [beaver]

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/34539

hermit It often- times happens, that a single beaver lies retired, and is then stiled by furriers, a hermit: they say, it is turned out from the family, because it is lazy and will not work; and what is very singular (for be the cause what it will, the fact is certain) all hermit beavers have a black mark on the inside of the skin upon their backs, called a saddle, which distinguishes them. I rather think the cause of hermit beavers to be fidelity; as they are very faithful creatures to their mate; and by some accident or other, loosing that mate, they either will not pair again, or remain single until they can find another hermit of the contrary sex; and that the saddle proceeds from the want of a partner to keep their back warm. I am sure that supposition is more na- tural, than, that it should be turned out because it is lazy: for many of those hermit beavers do so much work, that good fur- riers have sometimes been deceived and imagined, they had found a small crew. W. J. KIRWIN JAN 1973 JH JAN 1973 PRINTED ITEM DNE-cit Used I Used I Used I [see 'beaver' etc]