172 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



the trade has gradually declined, and is now mainly carried on 

 in Germany. The backs are used for several purposes, the 

 whitish under-parts are employed for the linings of cloaks, 

 while the tails are used in the manufacture of boas, and also as 

 trimmings. The so-called "Camels'-hair" paint-brushes are like- 

 wise made from Squirrel's hair. 



THE BEAVERS. FAMILY CASTORID^. 



The members of this Family are aquatic Rodents, differing from 

 the SciiiridcE. in having but a single pair of pre-molars in each 

 jaw, and in all the cheek-teeth being rootless and having re- 

 entering foldings of enamel on their crowns, which become 

 perfectly flat by wear ; while, in the one existing genus, at 

 least, the tail is broad, depressed, and naked, and the hind- 

 feet are webbed. Moreover, the skull is devoid of projecting 

 processes on its upper surface defining the hinder border of 

 the socket of the eye. 



GENUS CASTOR. 

 Castor^ Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 78 (1766). 



Upper molar teeth sub-equal in size, with one fold of enamel 

 on the inner, and three on the outer side. Form massive ; 

 fur soft and thick ; tail as above ; hind-feet with an additional 

 rudimentary claw on the second toe. 



THE EUROPEAN BEAVER. CASTOR FIBER. 



Castor fiber ^ Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 78 (1766). 

 Castor fossilis, Goldfuss, Nova Acta. Ac. Cces. Leop.-Car. vol. 



xi. p. 488 (1823). 

 Castor eiiropcBus^ Owen, Brit. Foss. Mamm. p. 190 (1846). 



Characters. — Since the Beaver is no longer an inhabitant of 

 the British Isles, it will be unnecessary to describe it, and it 



