BEAVER. 249 



about 80,000 skins of the Hudson's Bay Company. 

 Black specimens are more abundant ; from 200 to 500, 

 and sometimes even 800, are taken in one year ; these 

 are chiefly from the Moose Eiver district, and Columbia. 

 The under fur is about two-thirds of an inch long, thick, 

 dense, soft, and of a beautiful drab colour ; it is shorter 

 and denser on the belly than on the back, to protect it 

 from the cold water. The longer hairs on the back, 

 called water-hairs, are from 2 to 3 inches long. The 

 tail of the Beaver was considered a great delicacy in the 

 time of the old fur-trading companies, and was one of 

 the dainty dishes of the board. The flesh is also good 

 eating, and even the pelts have been eaten by the 

 trappers, when other provisions have failed, the fur 

 being cut off, and preserved. 



The Beaver inhabits the greater part of North 

 America, the range extending farther north than most 

 other fur-bearing animals, except the Hare, Lemming, 

 Polar Bear, Arctic Fox, and Ermine. It was once 

 extensively found in Alaska, where the animals are large, 

 and light-coloured, but of late years they have much 

 decreased in numbers there. Those from the district of 

 Nooshagak are the best. The Beaver is sparingly found 

 in Labrador. Fort George produces very large animals, 

 about 3 feet in size ; these, as well as those from Moose 

 Factory (a very important producing district), are very 

 dark brown in colour. It is also found in the Lakes, 

 Nova Scotia and California. The Beavers inhabiting 

 Oregon and the Eocky Mountains are of a very light 

 colour, almost white ; this is probably owing to the alti- 

 tude at which they live, and the animal should not be 

 classed as a different species. Mexico, Arizona, and 

 others of the Southern States, are also habitats of this 

 animal, but the skins from these parts are of poor 



