The Fur Animals of Louisiana 



163 



old. The usual number in a litter is four, although he has 

 records of six young and even eight embryos found in a 

 large, old female. As the females have only four teats, 

 more than four young must take turns in nursing. As a 

 rule, the sexes are equally divided in a litter. 



The Louisiana beaver is known as Castor canadensis 

 carolinensis under the belief that it is related to the sub- 

 species first described from North Carolina. A study of 

 specimens and skulls may show that our beaver is entitled 

 to a subspecific rank all its own. 



That it was known to the first inhabitants is shown by 

 the fact the Biloxi called it tama and they called a beaver 

 pelt tama abi. The Choctaws knew the beaver as kinta, 

 the beaver dam was a kinta oktabli, while a pelt was called 

 kinta oktapa. 



The early French settlers called it Castor and this name 

 and its early distribution is reflected in the numerous 

 Castor Creeks, Beaver Dams retained in the geography of 

 the state. The quaint illustration of a beaver found in Le 

 Page du Pratz's work is sufficiently interesting to be here 

 reproduced. 



Ca<r/c 



?7 



The beaver was a fearsome beast, according to the engraver of the illustrations 

 in Le Page du Pratz's history of Louisiana. It is quite evident that the artist had 

 in mind that the animal's tail was unique but it is hardly the spotted plume-like 

 appendage that was exhibited to Parisians of 1735. 



Today the few beaver colonies remaining are to be 

 found in St. Helena and East Feliciana parishes on the 



