THE BEAVER. 39 



appear till the time of Queen Elizabeth, when an 

 English translation of it was inserted by Dr. Powel, in 

 his " History of Wales," published in 1588. We are 

 thus minute in describing the circumstance, because 

 the passage we are proceeding to notice has been 

 attributed to Dr. Powel, while from the preceding 

 observations it will appear to be really the writing of 

 a much earHer author. The passage is as follows : — 

 " Kdariof) Greek, Fiber Latin, Beaver English, Afanc 

 British. Giraldus in Itinerarium." 



" In Teivi, above all the rivers in Wales, were in 

 Giraldus's time a great number of Castors, which 

 may be Englished Beavers, and are called in Welsh 

 avanc, which name onelie remaineth in Wales at this 

 date, but what it is very few can tell. It is a beast 

 not much unlike an Otter, but it is bigger, all hearie 

 saving the taile, which is like a fishe taile, as broad 

 as a man's hand. This beaste useth as well the 

 water as the land, and hath very sharp teeth, and 

 biteth cruellie till he perceive the bones cracke." 



After mentioning the efficacy of the secretions 

 of this animal in physic, the writer proceeds : 

 " He that will learn what strong nests they make, 

 which Giraldus caUeth casteUs, which they build 

 upon the face of the water with great bows (boughs) 

 which they cut with their teeth, and how some lie 

 upon their backs, holding the wood with their 

 fore feet, which the other draweth with a crosse stick, 

 the which he holdeth in his mouth, to the water- 

 side ; and the other particularities of their natures, 

 let him read Giraldus, in his Topographie of Wales." 



