ORDEE OV EODENTIA. 477 



was found lying lifeless at the door of those he had taken for his 

 friends. Was it because he had asked to live with them, and that, 

 not knowing him, they refused to accede to his demand, which 

 resulted in a struggle which terminated in his death ? 



" It is with reluctance that we can believe that such an act of 

 ferocity could be committed by animals which have the greatest 

 aversion for blood, which are the opponents of rapine and war, 

 which are endowed with such a mild and pacific character, and 

 are essentially devoted to libertj'."* 



It is not only the fur of the Beaver that is in demand : there is 

 also another particular product named casforeimi, which is used in 

 medicine as an antispasmodic. This is an odoriferous substance, 

 secreted bj' two glands situated at the root of the tail. Two other 

 pouches in their vicinity produce an oil, which lubricates their 

 coats, and renders them impervious to water. Further, we are 

 assured that the flesh of the Beaver is edible, and that the North 

 American Indians and white traders consider it a bonne-bouche. 



The Castors inhabit the northern regions of the two continents. 

 They are found in Europe, Asia, and America. In Asia, they are 

 only to be met with in Siberia and Northern Tartarj^ ; in Europe, 

 in Russia, Poland, Prussia, Austria, and the south of France. 

 In former times they were found in every part of France, and 

 probably Great Britain. 



Fossil remains of the Beaver have been discovered near 

 Paris, and the little Bievre river appears to have been so named 

 in consequence of the Beavers which lived on its banks. The 

 Castors of the Rhone are called Bievres hj the people of Southern 

 France. 



Myopotamus. — The genus Myopotamus (River-Rats) greatty 

 resembles the Beaver. They are about the same size, and, like 

 the latter, have palmated feet ; but their tail is cylindrical and 

 scaly. 



The only known species of Myopotamus is the Coypou {Myopo- 

 famits coi/piis, Mus coypus moUna), which is very common in Chili 

 and La Plata, and is also, though more rarely, found in Brazil 

 and the other states of South America, where the natives inces- 

 santly persecute it on account of its valuable fur. As it remains in 

 its bvirrow during the day, it is hunted at night with Dogs. Some 



» L'Amiee lUustree, 12 March, 1868. 



