MOUNTAIN BEAVER 



tions in Marin County, California, where it is found within 

 an area of approximately no square miles." (Taylor) 



"Mountain Beaver" is somewhat of a misnomer for this 

 animal which is not a true Beaver, but belongs to a separate 

 and distinct family which is found only in North America, 

 where it is restricted to a very small area. It is very primitive 

 in structure. 



The Mountain Beaver is so little known that no very ac- 

 ceptable vernacular name has appeared. It was first discov- 

 ered by Lewis and Clark and was evidently well known to 

 various western tribes of Indians, from whom we get the 

 names, Sewellel (variously spelled), Showtl, Squallah, and 

 others less euphonious. The name Mountain Beaver is used 

 here because it is the one most apt to be remembered by the 

 layman, and it has appeared sufficiently often in literature to 

 have the sanction of usage. 



This animal lives in extensive underground burrows and so 

 seldom comes above ground in the daytime that one might 

 live in the region frequented hy A plodontia and never suspect 

 the presence of the animal. The burrows are usually in moist 

 localities, sometimes with water running through them, and 

 the openings are under ferns, bushes, or logs. The burrows 

 are of generous size and run for long distances, with many 

 openings. Vegetation cut for food is frequently left outside 

 the burrow to wilt before being carried inside. 



The Mountain Beaver is a very hardy animal, and although 

 it fights viciously when first taken from a trap, becomes tame 

 in a remarkably short time. The animal is strong enough to 

 give a very painful bite. One that I kept allowed me to 

 handle him freely before he had been captive twenty-four 

 hours, and ate what I gave him without showing the timidity 

 so often displayed by creatures just caught. He showed no 

 fear of water and swam to shore in an unconcerned manner 

 when I placed him in a small stream. 



Mountain Beavers have a characteristic musky odor, pene- 

 trating but not unpleasant, reminiscent of that of a Muskrat. 

 Their fur, while pleasing to the touch, has no commercial value. 



The tail of the Mountain Beaver appears as scarcely more 

 than a mere tuft of hairs, the vertebras themselves being about 



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