THE BEAVER. 



The genus of Beavers (Castor) is ap- The habits of the Beaver are very inter- 

 parently represented by a single living esting. Several years are required before 

 species. By some authorities the Amen- its growth is fully attained, and it will in- 

 cari form is considered a distinct species crease in size after the teeth are fully ma- 

 and is given the technical name Castor ture. "Two-year-old Beavers generally 

 canaden'sis, while the European form is weigh about thirty-five to forty pounds, 

 called Castor fiber. In external charac- while very old ones occasionally attain a 

 teristics the two resemble each other very weight of upwards of sixty. Morgan re- 

 closely, and it is in the study of the struc- cords the capture of one which weighed 

 ture of the skeleton that the differences sixty-three pounds. The increase in the 

 appear. However, though there is this size of the skull seems to continue nearly 

 diversity of opinion, it is sufficient for the through life ; in old age the skull not only 

 reader to look upon the two forms' as acquires larger dimensions, but the 

 merely geographical races of the same weight is relatively greater in conse- 

 species, and that the Beaver is a native of quence of the increased thickness and 

 the greater part of the northern hemis- density of the bones. The ridges for the 

 phere. Though its home covered this ex- attachment of muscles also become more 

 tensive area, it has disappeared from the strongly developed in old age." 

 larger number of localities that it once fre- The general color of the back of the 

 quented. Speaking of its range as a Beaver is a reddish brown. The shade 

 whole, it may now be considered rare ex- varies both with the seasons and with the 

 cept in certain isolated localities. This geographical location. Those found far- 

 extermination is due to the advance of ther to the northward are usually darker, 

 civilization upon its natural haunts, and Albinos, either pure white, nearly white 

 the commercial zeal that has stimulated or with white blotches, have been ob- 

 the hunter to greater efforts to effect its served. 



capture. Within recent years the Beaver "The fur consists of an exceedingly 



was common in some of the Gulf States, thick, flaky, woolly coat of silky softness 



In 1876 it was reported as abundant in and a thin, long outer coat composed of 



Virginia. It is evident from an examina- strong, stiff, shining hair, short on the 



tion of the numerous writings regarding head and rear part of the back and over 



its distribution that the Beaver formerly two inches long on the rest of the body." 



existed in great numbers not only in the The tail, which is rounded at the base, 



Atlantic States, but also to the westward much flattened and very broad, bears 



as far as the Pacific coast. horny, dark-colored scales. 



The Beaver is a member of that large The fore legs are short and the feet are 



order of gnawing mammals called the unwebbed. The hind legs are much 



Rodentia, from the Latin word meaning stronger, the feet are fully webbed and 



to gnaw. In this order are classed all they, alone, are used, with the aid of the 



those animals that have those peculiar tail, to propel the Beaver through the 



long incisor teeth which are constantly water. In the water it is graceful in its 



renewed by growth from the roots and motions, but on the land, like nearly all 



as constantly worn to a chisel edge, at the animals that are fitted for a partially 



outer end, by gnawing. Such animals are aquatic life, it is clumsy and awkward and 



squirrels, the gophers, the mice, the rats, its motions are neither rapid nor uniform, 



the muskrats, the porcupines, the hares Usually it is only in those districts that 



and the rabbits. are remote from the habitations of man 



170 



