108 NATURAL HISTORY. 



ARVICOLA. (Lat. Arvum, a field ; colo, I inhabit.) 



Amphibius (Gr. 'A/z<^', on both sides ; fitou, I live), the Water-rat. 



The WATER RAT is a native of England, and very common 

 on the banks of rivers, brooks, &c. It digs holes in the bank, 

 and is reported to eat fish, frogs, &c., but this is very doubtful. 

 They exist in great numbers round Oxford, and I have re- 

 peatedly watched them feeding. I never saw them eating fish, 

 nor found fish-bones inside their holes, except when a kingfisher 

 has taken possession ; but I have frequently seen them gnaw- 

 ing the green bark from reeds, which they completely strip, 

 leaving the mark of each tooth as they proceed. I shot one 

 while feeding, and at first thought that the marks of its teeth 

 were caused by the shot, for until that time I had supposed that 

 the Water Rat fed on fish. 



Sub-family d. Castor ina. 

 THE BEAVER. 



North America is the principal country where the BEAVER 

 is found, but it is also common on the Euphrates, and along 

 some of the larger European rivers, as the Rhone and the 

 Danube. In former years, when the wolf and bear inhabited 

 England, the Beaver followed its architectural pursuits along 

 the rivers ; but they have riot been seen in this country since 

 1188. 



