22 THE AMERICAN BEAVER. 



gloss, are not uncommon; perhaps they are more 

 plentiful at Churchill than at any other factory in the 

 bay; but it is rare to get more than twelve or fifteen 

 of their skins in the course of one year's trade. "^ The 

 skin of the foetal beaver, of which I have two speci- 

 mens in my collection, is covered with a thick fur, 

 which is soft and silky to the touch, and of a clear 

 brown, with a slightly reddish tinge. In these skins the 

 coarse hairs are undeveloped. Albinos are occasionally 

 found, but they are rare. Upon this subject the same 

 author remarks: ''In the course of twenty years' ex- 

 perience in the countries about Hudson's Bay, though 

 I have traveled six hundred miles to the west of the 

 sea-coast, I nevea:* saw but one white beaver skin, and 

 it had many reddish and brown hairs along the ridge 

 of the back. The sides of the belly were of a glossy 

 silvery white. "^ Prince Maximilian speaks of white 

 beaver as occasionally found upon the Yellowstone 

 River. He says: "I saw one beautifully spotted with 

 white; yellowish-white and pure white are not unfre- 

 quently caught on the Yellowstone."^ The skin of 

 the beaver when tanned is thicker than the thickest 

 calf skin, and coarse in texture. 



When full grown, the weight of the American 

 beaver varies from thirty to sixty pounds, the latter 

 weight being rarely attained. The weight of the 

 three largest Lake Superior beavers of which I have 

 reliable knowledge, was fifty-eight pounds each to two 



^ Hearne's Journey to the Northern Ocean. Dublin ed., 1796, 

 p. 241. 



2 Ibid., 240. 



^ Travels in North America. Lond. ed., 1843, p. 332. 



