196 EXTINCT AND VANISHING MAMMALS 



Netherlands], and the Weser; in the Luneburg area; and on the 

 Schunter near Braunschweig. He also speaks of their more recent 

 occurrence on the Havel and the Oder, in the Altmark, on the 

 Vistula [now in Poland], in East Prussia, and at Schwenckfeld in 

 Silesia. 



"Harting says that 'at the close of the last century [eighteenth] 

 many localities are reported to have been frequented by Beavers,' 

 notably in Altmark, Preignitz, Middlemark, on the rivers Spree and 

 Haxel and in the vicinities of Berlin, Potsdam, Oranienburg, Lieben- 

 walde, Trebbin, Nauen, and Konigshorst. . . . Wagner in 1846 

 mentions Beavers as living on the Danube, Amper, Isar, Iller, 

 Salzach, and the Oder." (Millais, 1905, p. 161.) 



Denmark. The species was formerly distributed all over Den- 

 mark, including Bornholm (Winge, 1908, p. 96) . 



Norway. Trade in Beaver skins was carried on early in the 

 Middle Ages. Probably most of the Norwegian furs were exported 

 to England. The species had begun to decrease by the close of the 

 seventeenth century. In the middle of the eighteenth century it was 

 probably still distributed throughout most of the woodland valleys, 

 from the southernmost parts of the country to the farthest confines 

 of Finmarken. 



In 1896 its range was chiefly in the Stifts of Christiania and 

 Christiansand. The largest colony was located on the Nisser River 

 in Nedenaes Amt. 



The trees felled are used both for food and for building material. 

 The Beaver prefers the aspen (Populus tremula) and after that the 

 birch, oak, and alder. 



According to an old superstition, the castor has the power to 

 frighten away whales approaching a boat. In some parts the castor 

 is worn from the garter as a specific for worms. In the sixteenth 

 century the tail was regarded as a table delicacy. The teeth are 

 worn as amulets in Finmarken, partly for ornament, partly as a 

 protection against sickness, and were offered to the gods at the 

 place of sacrifice and buried in the graves of heathen Lapps. 



By the middle of the nineteenth century the Beaver was fast 

 becoming extinct, but the Game Laws of 1845 checked the decrease. 

 By the end of the century it was on the increase and had extended 

 its range by migration. The number was estimated at about 60 in 

 1880, about 100 in 1883, and perhaps a few more in 1896. By this 

 time Norwegian Beaver skins were very rarely in the market, and the 

 castor was of little value. 



For a period of about 40 years after 1855 Beavers were allowed to 

 be killed under certain restrictions. Then a closed season of 10 years 

 was declared for the entire Amt of S0ndre Bergenhus and for the 

 whole of Aamli. (Collett, 1898, pp. 105-126.) 



