194 CASTORID&. 
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, dated 16th December, 
1788, specifying that ‘“ Dr. Farquharson presented to the 
Society the fossil skeleton of the head, and one of the 
haunch-bones, of a Beaver”. On comparing the speci- 
mens, which were dyed of a deep chocolate colour, Mr. 
Neill identified them with the genus Castor; and on 
application to Dr. Farquharson, he learnt that these 
specimens were the remains of a Caledonian Beaver, 
having been dug up in the parish of Kinloch, in Perthshire, 
near the foot of the Grampian Hills, out of a marl-pit on 
the margin of the Loch of Marlee, under a covering of 
peat-moss, between five and six feet thick. 
In October 1818, during the progress of draining a 
morass, called Middlestot’s Bog, in the parish of Edrom, 
Berwickshire, a bed of shell-marl was exposed under the 
peat-moss. A layer of loose whitish substance, consisting 
of decayed Musci, of the species which grow in marshy 
situations, was found pretty generally between the bed of 
compact peat-moss and the bed of marl; and the skeleton 
of a Beaver was found imbedded partly in this loose and 
spongy matter, and partly in the marl below. ‘‘ Only the 
hard bones of the cranium and face, and the jaw-bones, 
retained enough of their firm texture to fit them for being 
removed and preserved in a dry state. Around these, 
however, dispersed in rather a promiscuous manner, were 
many bones, which, from their size and appearance, evi- 
dently belonged to the same animal. Several of the long 
bones and vertebre, while they remained in situ, seemed 
perfect ; but, on being touched, they were found to be 
nearly in a state of dissolution, and, though some were 
carefully taken out, they speedily mouldered down on 
being exposed to the air and becoming dry.”* Mr. Neill 
* Mr. Neill, loc. cit. p. 184. 
