262 FAMILY CASTORID^E; BEAVER, COYPU. 



shown in Fig. 133. The Beavers are best known as inhabitants 

 of Canada, and of the northern parts of the United States ; where 

 alone their remarkable building propensity (which has been 

 elsewhere described, ANIM. PHYSIOL., 706), is fully manifested. 

 But they are at present found also on the banks of the Rhone, 

 Danube, Weser, and other continental rivers; and there is 

 sufficient historical evidence, that they were formerly inhabitants 

 of Britain. As these Beavers do not build, however, but 

 burrow under ground, it has been supposed that they are not of 

 the same species with the American Beaver ; but a colony has 

 been recently discovered in a lonely spot, near the source of 

 the river Elbe, in which regular habitations have been con- 

 structed ; and it is known that the American Beavers take to 

 burrowing instead of building, when molested by Man. The 

 Beaver is pursued both for its fur, and for'the sake of a peculiar 

 odoriferous secretion, termed Castor, which was formerly much 

 used in medicine, but is now chiefly employed by perfumers. 

 The fur was formerly a most important article of commerce. 

 In the year 1788, upwards of 170,000 skins were exported from 

 Canada ; and in 1808, as many as 126,927 were sent from 

 Quebec alone to this country, the value of which was estimated 

 at nearly 120,000/. Of late years, however, the exportation 

 has greatly diminished ; although the country now occupied by 

 the hunters is of far greater extent than formerly; the animals 

 have been exterminated from many extensive tracts, which they 

 formerly inhabited. In the year 1827, the importation into 

 London was little beyond 50,000 skins. This diminution has 

 caused greater care to be taken than formerly, to prevent the 

 destruction of the race ; but it may be doubted whether these 

 animals will ever become so plentiful as they once were. 



230. The deficiency in Beaver skins is partly supplied, as 

 already mentioned, by those of the Muskquash ; and partly by 

 those of a South American Rodent, the Myopotamus or Coypu, 

 which connects this family with the Cavidse. This animal re- 

 sembles the Beaver in many respects, but is of smaller size. 

 Its hind-feet are webbed; but its tail is round, instead of being 

 flattened ; and its scaly covering is partly concealed by scattered 



