sha, SOW IICIIL, AVAL OMOUN TILA IS QIEA, 
ALLAN BROOKS. 
This rodent, commonly known in 
Southwestern British Columbia as the 
mountain beaver, is one of the most cu- 
rious and striking of North American 
mammals. In general appearance it re- 
sembles a muskrat, with a short, hairy tail 
and enormous whiskers; but it has no 
affinity to that animal, other than belong- 
ing to the same general order (Rodentia). 
According to Dr. Merriam it is the type 
and sole representative of an isolated fam- 
ily, and has no known relative in any 
part of the world. 
Its range is restricted to a narrow strip 
along the Pacific coast, from Northern 
California to Southern British Columbia. 
In the latter country I have observed it 
from a few hundred feet above sea level 
to timber line on the Cascade mountains; 
it being abundant in the park-like country 
below timber line, where there is a good 
thick growth of vegetation on the moun- 
tain slopes, especially on those with a 
South exposure. 
In habits its nearest allies are the pocket 
gophers (Thomomys ind Geomys), though 
its claws are even longer and stronger 
proportionately than those of these ani- 
mals. 
SEWELLEL OR MT. BEAVER, APLODONTIA RUFA, 
258 
It has a curious stump of an inner toe 
on the front feet, which has much the 
same action as the thumb on the human 
hand, and must enable it to get a good 
grip on stones it wants to dislodge in its 
underground tunnels. In spite of its size 
it is rarely seen, and many people live 

66 
mountain 
of 
beaver” without ever seeing one. 
Where numerous its burrows extend in 
all directions underground, one or 2 well 
traveled- highways always leading to the 
among large colonies 
nearest water. In fact, though not in any 
way an aquatic animal, a plentiful supply 
of water seems, with it, a sime qua non. 
The food of the Sewellel is entirely veg- 
etarian, and consists principally of grass, 
herbs, etc., which it cuts down and car- 
ries in large bunches into its underground 
retreats to be consumed at leisure. A 
favorite food plant is the “Scotch cap,” 

