36 THE AMERICAN BEAVER. 



Another interesting fact with reference to the bea- 

 ver is that of his great antiquity upon the earth. A 

 presumption to this effect would arise from his coarse 

 subsistence and his aquatic habits; but it is confirmed 

 by decisive evidence. Both the European and Amer- 

 ican beavers are found in a fossil state, and under con- 

 ditions which establish for each of them a very ancient 

 epoch for their first existence among living animals. 

 Upon the European fossil beaver, Owen observes: 

 '' That the present European beaver is not the degen- 

 erate descendant of the great Trogontlierium is proved, 

 not only by the differences in the dental structure 

 pointed out in the preceding section, but likewise by 

 the fact that beavers in no respect differing in size or 

 anatomical characters from the Gastor Eiiropxus of the 

 present day, coexisted with the Trog-ontherium. Re- 

 mains of the beaver have been discovered by Mr. 

 Green in the same fossilized condition, and under cir- 

 cumstances indicative of equal antiquity with the 

 extinct mammoth, in the lacustrine formations at 

 Bacton. * * * Remains of the beaver have been 

 found associated with those of the mammoth, hippo- 

 potamus, rhinoceros, hyena, and other extinct mam- 

 mals, in the pleistocene fresh-water or drift formations 

 of the Vald'Arno; and remains of both Trogontherium 

 and Castor were found fossil by Dr. Schmerling in the 

 ossiferous caverns in the neighborhood of Liege. * * 



heard the cracking from the bones. The hair of the latax, which 

 is intermediate between that of the deer and seal, is rough." 

 {nep\ Z<I)u)v 0. Z. Sean. vii. 5. Ed. Schneid. i. p. 362.) Pliny, by 

 some misapprehension, speaks {supra) of the beaver as having 

 the same pertinacious bite ascribed properly by Aristotle to the 

 otter. 



