ZOOLOGY. 125 



with a tail measuring to the end of the hairs on it three inches. 

 The color is mixed yellowish-brown and black above, white 

 beneath, thighs and rump grayish. 



Trowbridge's hare {Lepus troichridgii) is found along the 

 coast southward from 39°. The length is from eleven to 

 fifteen inches ; the tail, with hair and all, less than an inch. 

 The back is yellowish brown mixed with dark brown, paler on 

 the sides, and ash-colored beneath. 



The sage rabbit {Lepus artemisia) is found in all the open 

 parts of California north of the Straits of Carquinez. It is 

 from eleven to sixteen inches in length ; in color, brown above 

 and white beneath, with a yellowish tinge, the under part of 

 the neck a yellowish brown. The fur on aU parts of the body 

 is lead-colored at the base. 



§ 95. Aquatic Mammals. — The American beavers {Castor 

 canadensis) were once very abundant in all the large streams of 

 California, and it was chiefly for their sake that the first Ameri- 

 can trappers entered the country some thirty-five or forty years 

 ago. They are still found in nearly all parts of the state, and 

 even numerous, it may be said, in some of the sloughs near the 

 junction of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. They 

 rarely build dams in California, but Hve in burrows in the 

 banks. When they dive they slap the water with their tails, 

 makinsr a noise that can be heard at a considerable distance in 

 a still night. Their skins, which once commanded very high 

 prices, have lost much of their value since the adoj^tion of silk 

 for making hats. 



The common mink {Patorlus viso?i) is found in California, 

 but is not abundant. The general color of the animal is dark 

 brownish-chestnut, with a white spot on the end of the chin. 

 The skin of the mink is as valuable as that of the beaver. 



The Californian otter {Liitra californica) is found all along 

 this coast, and was formerly abundant on all the large streams. 

 It is carnivorous, living entirely on fish and shell-fish. It pre- 

 fers large streams and lakes for its home, while the plant-eating 

 beaver prefers small streams. The Californian otter is some- 



