POSITION IN" ANIMAL KINGDOM. 43 



Owen (1846), disregarding Fr. Cuvier's name of the 

 European beaver, calls him Castor Europaeus, in which 

 he is followed by Brandt and other zoologists. With 

 respect to the American beaver, if specifically different, 

 it is doubtful whether there is such a priority of scien- 

 tific determination in favor of Kuhl's name, Casio?' 

 Canadensis, as to enforce its acceptance. Castor Amer- 

 icanus, from the great extent of his habitat, would be 

 more appropriate. 



The question, however, of a specific name for the 

 American beaver is at least premature. It is neces- • 

 sary, first, to show that they are of different species, 

 which cannot as yet be conclusively asserted. Brandt, 

 who has investigated this subject more elaborately 

 than any other zoologist, came to the same conclusion 

 as Fr. Cuvier, that they were specifically different. 

 Since the publication of his memoir upon the Rodents, 

 this conclusion has been very generally acquiesced in 

 by zoologists. It appears, however, that his observa- 

 tions and comparisons were limited to eight skulls of 

 the European, and five of the American beaver. The 

 differences revealed by these skulls undoubtedly justi- 

 fied the inference of difference of species. A com- 

 parison of a much larger number of skulls might 

 show, nevertheless, that the variations relied upon 

 were not constant; and such has proved to be the 

 case. For the purpose of testing the constancy of 

 these assumed variations, I increased my collection of 



lucidis. Unguibus tegalaribus obtusis, corneis. Cauda applanata, 

 piles ad basin squamarum raris et brevibus. Dentibus surrufis. 

 Longitude corporis, 22|, poll, caudal, 1". Ejusque latitudo, 2^ 

 poUicum. Ad Fretum Hudsoni. In Musco Britanico." — Beitriige 

 zur zoologie und Verleichenden Anatomiae. Frankf., 4, p. 64. 



