224 MAMMALIA. GLIRES. Bearer. 



and fet about the neceffary repairs, or new buildings, with the fame union, and appearance of intel- 

 lect:, as at their firfl: eonftrudtion, 



45" "•/• Terrier Beaver. — Cajlor Fiber folitarius. 



Befides thefe aflbciated Beavers, there are others wliich, even in the fame .climates, live folitary in 

 holes like Badgers ; thefe are called Terriers, or Terrier Beavers, from their digging in the ground ; 

 they are eafily diftinguifhed from the reft by the dirtinefs and ragged appearance of their coat, which 

 is torn by rubbing on the earth of their holes. The Solitary Beavers are fuch as have either been de- 

 prived of a fufficient number of companions to carry on the labours of an eftablifhment, by the de- 

 fbruftion of their village ; or they live in countries where mankind fo much abound as to prevent the 

 poffibility of their finding fufficient quiet for carrying on their operations; fome authors fay, that part 

 of them have been banifhed from among the affociated Beavers, on account of crimes or indolence. 

 At any rate, it is certain, that the affociated Beavers are only found amid -vaft forefts, while the foli- 

 tary Beavers, befides being found in the fame countries, are widely fpread over many places where, at 

 leaft in modern days, no aflbciations take place. The folitary Beaver was well known to the ancients, 

 in the neighbourhood of the Black Sea, and was called Canis ponticits, but they had no knowledge of 

 -their affociations, and wonderful labours. 



Beavers are found all over North America, .Ruffia, and Siberia; they are very rare in Poland, Ger- 

 ,many, France, Italy, Greece, and Egypt ; there are none now in Britain, but fome Beavers heads have 

 lately been dug out of peat-bogs in the north of Scotland. The fkins of this animal form a prodi- 

 gious article of commerce, for the fake of the fine downy fur, of which the fineft hats are made, and 

 fome other articles of manufacture. Above fifty-four thoufand of them have been fold by the Hud- 

 fon's Bay Company at one fale, befides thofe that are imported from other parts of North America. 

 Thofe of a black colour are preferred, and fuch as are taken during winter, efpecially if they have 

 been worn for fome time by the Indians, by which the long hairs fall off, leaving the fine downy fur 

 perfectly free, and better fitted for every purpofe -of manufacture. 



.457 2. Chilefe Beaver. — 2. Cajlor hu'idobnus. z. 



The tail is compreffeel fidewife, broader in the middle, pointed, and hairy ; the fore 

 feet have the toes fkirted with membrane, and the hind feet are webbed. Molina, 

 ■hift. nat. Chil. 253. 



Inhabits Chili. — Frequents the deepeft parts of the lakes and rivers ; is a fierce animal, which lives 

 on fiih and crabs, and is capable of flaying a long while under water ; it has no caftor glands, 

 neither does it imitate the wonderful architecture of the Common Beaver. The body of this fpecies, 

 from the tip of the nofe to the rump, is about three feet long ; the head is of a fquared figure, with 

 a blunt fnout, fmall eyes, and fliort rounded ears ; the fur is compofed of two orders of hairs, like 

 that of the Beaver, the undermoft, or down, being much finer than that of the Rabbit, and is held 

 / in great eftimafson by the furriers; the upper parts of the body are afli coloured, and the lower parts 

 Y.-hiuih : The female brings two or three young ones each litter.— Perhaps this animal belongs rather 

 to the tribe of Otters ; but we nutfi. wait for farther information before it can be defcribed with fuf- 

 ikieut accuracy to afcertain its place in fyftem. — T.. 



XXVI, 



