194 



CASTORID*:. 



Society of A ntiquaries of Scotland, dated 1 6th December, 

 1 788, specifying that " Dr. Farquharson presented to the 

 Society the fossil skeleton of the head, and one of the 

 haunch-bones, of a Beaver." On comparing the speci- 

 mens, which were dyed of a deep chocolate colour, Mr. 

 Neill identified them with the genus Castor ; and on 

 application to Dr. Farquharson, he learnt that these 

 specimens were the remains of a Caledonian Beaver, 

 having been dug up in the parish of Kinloch, in Perthshire, 

 near the foot of the Grampian Hills, out of a marl-pit on 

 the margin of the Loch of Marlee, under a covering of 

 peat-moss, between five and six feet thick. 



In October 1818, during the progress of draining a 

 morass, called Middlestot^s Bog, in the parish of Edrom, 

 Berwickshire, a bed of shell-marl was exposed under the 

 peat-moss. A layer of loose whitish substance, consisting 

 of decayed Musci, of the species which grow in marshy 

 situations, was found pretty generally between the bed of 

 compact peat-moss and the bed of marl ; and the skeleton 

 of a Beaver was found imbedded partly in this loose and 

 spongy matter, and partly in the marl below. " Only the 

 hard bones of the cranium and face, and the jaw-bones, 

 retained enough of their firm texture to fit them for being 

 removed and preserved in a dry state. Around these, 

 however, dispersed in rather a promiscuous manner, were 

 many bones, which, from their size and appearance, evi- 

 dently belonged to the same animal. Several of the long 

 bones and vertebrae, while they remained in situ, seemed 

 perfect ; but, on being touched, they were found to be 

 nearly in a state of dissolution, and, though some were 

 carefully taken out, they speedily mouldered down on 

 being exposed to the air and becoming dry."* Mr. Neill 



* Mr. Neill, loc. cit. p. 184. 



