Feb., 1912. Mammals or Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 161 



ders it entirely a matter of conjecture. It would seem likely, however, 

 from geographical reasons that Beaver from southern Illinois would 

 probably show intergradation between canadensis and the southern 

 race, C. c. carolinensis, and, perhaps, approach nearer the latter than to 

 the typical form. 



Probably no other animal has been more intimately connected with 

 the early history and settlement of this country than the Beaver. 

 This fine animal, the largest of our North American Rodents, possesses 

 a commercially valuable skin with a more or less edible body, the tail 

 at least being considered a delicacy by many people; and it is not 

 surprising that after so many years of persecution both by Indians 

 and white trappers, it has been exterminated throughout a large portion 

 of its former range. It is still common, however, in some parts of the 

 United States and in Canada, and where it has of late years received 

 Governmental protection its numbers are on the increase. 



The enormous number of these animals which have been trapped 

 and otherwise killed is suggested by the fact that during the years i860 

 and 1870 the number of skins received by the American Fur Company 

 and Hudson Bay Company averaged 153,000 per annum* and, of course, 

 an immense number of these animals were killed by white trappers and 

 Indians, the skins of which did not find their way to either of the com- 

 panies mentioned. Later the number decreased somewhat, but even 

 at the present time the number of Beavers annually killed in the United 

 States and Canada will probably exceed 75,000. 



During the early part of last century Beaver skins were a recogniz'ed 

 basis of barter between the trappers (at that time largely Indians) and 

 the fur companies, a blanket or rifle being valued at so many "skins," 

 always meaning Beaver skins. That the rate of exchange was profitable 

 to the fur companies is evident from the statement of Mr. Robert 

 Brown, who says, ''When beaver were 30 s. per pound. Rocky Mountain 

 beaver were piled up on each side of a trade gun until they were on a 

 level with the muzzle, and this was the price! The muskets cost in 

 England some 15s." (Proc. Linn. Soc. London, Zool., 1868 (1869), 



PP- 369-70-) 



In early days Beavers were common along the wooded streams 

 throughout Illinois and Wisconsin, but at the present time they are 

 practically exterminated in Illinois, although it is probable that a very 

 few individuals may exist in the extreme southern portion of the state. 

 Mr. B. T. Gault of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, wrote me that in the year 

 1900 he saw some Beaver cuttings near Thebes, Alexander County, in 

 southern Illinois and enclosed a letter from Mr. C. J. Boyd of Anna, 



*Seton, E. T. Life Histories of Northern Animals, I, 1909, p. 451. 



