306 APPENDICES. 



The European castoreum is supposed to contain a larger propor- 

 tion of the volatile oil, castorin, and resin, and probably its superior- 

 ity as a medicine depends upon the resinoid element. A specimen 

 of castoreum which I obtained from a male American beaver 

 more than a year ago was, at first, of a hght yellow color, soft, 

 and very adhesive. At the present time the color is the same ex- 

 cept where it has had access to the air, which has changed the 

 surface to a dark brown. One hundred parts of this castoreum 

 lost fifty-six parts in boiling alcohol. Of the residuum, thirty- 

 three parts dissolved with effervescence in diluted hydrochloric 

 acid, affording evidence of a large amount of carbonate of lime. 

 The remaining eleven parts appeared to be chiefly animal matter, 

 but it was not critically examined. The alcoholic solution on cool- 

 ing showed no trace of castorin. Mixed with water the alcoholic 

 solution became milky. On filtration and thorough drying of the 

 filter there resulted 4 1 parts of resin. 



APPENDIX B. 



Samuel Reamers Article on the Beaver. 



From Samuel Hcarne's "Journey from Prince of Wales's Fort to the 

 Northern Ocean." London: 4to., 1795, ch. vii. p. 22G. 



The beaver being so plentiful, the attention of my companions 

 was chiefly engaged on them, as they not only furni.shed delicious 

 food, but their skins proved a valuable acquisition, being a prin- 

 cipal article of trade, as well as a serviceable one for clothing, etc. 



The situation of the beaver houses is various; where the beavers 

 are numerous, they are found to inhabit lakes, ponds, and rivers, 

 as well as those narrow creeks which connect the numerous lakes 

 with which this country abounds ; but the latter are generally 

 chosen by them where the depth of water and other circumstances 

 are suitable, as they have then the advantage of a current to 

 carry wood and other necessaries to their habitations, and be- 

 cause, in general, they are more difficult to be taken than those 

 that are built in standing Avater. 



There is no one particular part of a lake, pond, river, or creek. 



