THE BEAVER. 39 
appear till the time of Queen Elizabeth, when an 
English translation of it was inserted by Dr. Powel, in 
his “ History of Wales,” published in 1588. Weare 
thus minute in describing the circumstance, because 
the passage we are proceeding to notice has been 
attributed to Dr. Powel, while from the preceding 
observations it will appear to be really the writing of 
a much earlier author. The passage is as follows :-— 
“ Kaorwp Greek, Fiber Latin, Beaver English, Afanc 
British. Giraldus in Itinerarium.” 
“In Teivi, above all the rivers in Wales, were in 
Giraldus’s time a great number of Castors, which 
may be Englished Beavers, and are called in Welsh 
avanc, which name onelie remaineth in Wales at this 
date, but what it is very few can tell. It is a beast 
not much unlike an Otter, but it is bigger, all hearie 
saving the taile, which is like a fishe taile, as broad 
as a man’s hand. This beaste useth as well the 
water as the land, and hath very sharp teeth, and 
biteth cruellie till he perceive the bones cracke.” 
After mentioning the efficacy of the secretions 
of this animal in physic, the writer proceeds: 
“He that will learn what strong nests they make, 
which Giraldus calleth castells, which they build 
upon the face of the water with great bows (boughs) 
which they cut with their teeth, and how some lie 
upon their backs, holding the wood with their 
fore feet, which the other draweth with a crosse stick, 
the which he holdeth in his mouth, to the water- 
side ; and the other particularities of their natures, 
let him read Giraldus, in his Topographie of Wales.” 
