BEAVER. 255 



Sentinel, and in the Winter keeps open the Water from 

 freezing, by continual moving of his Tail, which is flat 

 without hair, and the most delicious Meat that can be 

 had." 



BEAVEK EAT. 

 Hydromys chrysog aster. 



The Beaver Eat, or, as it is sometimes called, the 

 Golden-bellied Beaver Eat, is one of the few mammals 

 of Australia which possesses a thick under fur. It is 

 of a grizzly colour, like a Eat ; the belly is either of a 

 golden colour, like a Musk-rat, or of a light grey. The 

 hair or fur is short, and the under fur abundant. 



The tail is about 6 inches long, dark or black in colour, 

 and the part nearest the top is white. 



The length of the body is from 6 to 8 inches. 



This animal inhabits Australia, and from 50 to a 100 

 skins are imported amongst sundry other skins from 

 that continent ; but they are not of much value owing 

 to their scarceness. 



HAMSTEE. 



Cricetus frumentarius. 

 French : Hamster. German : Hamster. 



The Hamster inhabits Germany and Eussia, where 

 it is found in considerable numbers, causing great 

 destruction to crops by the amount of grain it consumes. 



