work in moose-hair very much. The feathers, Mrs. Frazer told her, were
from the summer red bird or war bird, and the blue bird, both of which,
Lady Mary said, she had seen. The Indians use these feathers as ornaments
for their heads and shoulders on grand occasions.

Lady Mary recollected hearing her mamma speak of Indians who wore mantles
and dresses of gay feathers. They were chiefs of the Sandwich Islands, she
believed, who had these superb habits.

"Dear nurse, will you tell me anything more about birds and flowers
to-day?" asked Lady Mary, after she had put away her pretty bag.

"I promised to tell you about the beavers, my lady," replied Mrs. Frazer.

"Oh, yes, about the beavers that make the dams and the nice houses, and
cut down whole trees. I am glad you can tell me something about those
curious creatures; for mamma bought me a pretty picture, which I will show
you, if you please," said the little girl. "But what is this odd-looking,
black thing here? Is it a dried fish? It must be a black bass? Yes, nurse,
I am sure it is."

The nurse smiled, and said, "It is not a fish at all, my dear; it is a
dried beaver's tail. I brought it from the back lakes when I was at home,
that you might see it. See, my lady, how curiously the beaver's tail is
covered with scales; it looks like some sort of black leather, stamped in
a diaper pattern. Before it is dried, it is very heavy, weighing three or
four pounds. I have heard my brothers and some of the Indian trappers say,
that the animal makes use of its tail to beat the sides of the dams and
smoothe the mud and clay, as a plasterer uses a trowel. Some people think
otherwise, but it seems well suited from its shape and weight for the