22 CASTOR FIBER. 



In respect of external physiognomy and habit, this animal may bc ; 



compared to the badger ; but it is rather larger, and uniformly of 



a reddish brown colour. The usual length of the Beaver is about 



two feet ten inches, exclusive of the tail, which is oval, nearly ^ 



foot in length, covered with hexagonal scales, and compressed hori , 



zontally, but somewhat convex on its upper surface ; it is destitute; 



of hair, except at the base, and can be moved vertically and late . 



rally with considerable force, but the creature usually drags it aftei- 



him. The hair of the Beaver is fine, smooth, glossy, and most 



commonly of a chesnut colour, with a shorter downy grey fur 



beneath, varying sometimes to black. The colour, however, of the 



Beaver is subject to considerable variations ; thus M. Gcoffroy 



remarks that the Beaver of France is generally of an olivaceous 



yellow ; and white, black spotted with white, and cream-coloured 



varieties, have also been noticed. The feet are five-toed ; those 



behind being furnished with webs, and adapted to swimming ; 



but the animal in walking places on the ground only the toes 



of the fore-feet, while it rests the entire sole of the hinder. The 



eyes are small, with a round pupil, and the ears short and hairy. 



According to M. F. Cuvier, the conch of the ear is simple, and 



closes when the animal dives ; so do the nostrils. In the same 



pouch with the organs of generation and anus, are situated two 



pair of glands, of an oblong shape ; the two upper are filled with 



a fatty substance, whilst the two others contain each about two 



ounces of an oily viscid matter, inclosed in membranous cells, 



which is the officinal castor. The antients entertained an opinion 



that the drug called castor was lodged in the testicles of the male, 



and that the animal, when hard pressed by the hunters, would bite 



them off, and leave them to his pursuers : 



Eunuchum ipse facit, cupiens evadere damno 

 Testiculorum: adeo medicatum intelligit inguen. 



Juvenal, sat. xii. v. 34. 



Beavers are found in most of the northern parts of Europe, 

 Asia, and America, abounding most in cold regions, and becoming 

 less common towards the south. At present, they are met with 

 in the greatest numbers in North America, especially in Canada, 



