ANATOMY OF THE BEAVER. 



47 



quire a special treatise. The same objection applies 

 to frequent references to comparative, anatomy. If 

 the scientific reader requires any other apology for 

 omissions in the descriptive part, it must be found in 

 the writer's desire to avoid compilation, and to give 

 only the results of personal observation. In a few 

 points he is at variance with authorities, but not 

 without due consideration. 



DESCRIPTION. 



The beaver is the largest indigenous rodent in 

 Europe, and the largest rodent now living except the 

 capybara (Hydrochaerus Capybara) of South America. 



In the following description I shall refer to three 

 adult animals, one male and two females, captured 

 near Lake Superior, in February, March, and April, 

 1866. Two had lost an arm each from previous cap- 

 ture, the parts having entirely healed. The meas- 

 urements here and elsewhere given, unless otherwise 

 specified, are in inches and hundredths of an inch, 

 U. S. standard measure. Weights in avoirdupois 

 pounds and ounces. Sign for inches, "; for hundredths 

 of an inch, '". 



Length from tip of nose to end of tail.. 



" of scaly portion of tail 



Circumference of head before ears 



" behind ears 



" behind shoulders 



•' middle of abdomen 



" before hips 



" root of scaly tail 



" middle of scaly tail 



Male. 

 Wt 32 lbs. 



42-25 

 9-75 

 14- 

 14-50 



20- 



26-50 



25- 



7- 



8-50 



Female. 

 291^ lbs. 



42-25 



10- 



13- 



1550 



19- 



24- 



22-50 



6- 



8-75 



Female. 

 30 lbs. 



42- 

 10-50 



14-25 

 21-50 

 27-25 

 24-50 

 8- 

 10-50 



