The Beaver still belongs to the fauna of Norway, and will, in 

 all probability, be retainecl amongst it well into the next century, 

 provided only the small ainount of care is tåken in protecting it 

 as hitherto. 



The appearance of the Beaver in Norway has been discussed 

 on several previous occasions (1880, by Mr. Cocks; 1884 and 1886. 

 by Herr Hagemann; in 1876. 1881. and 1883 by the Author. See 

 p. 3). 



In 1895, and 1896, the Author had further opportunities of 

 visiting the colonies in Aamli, and Nedre Thelemarken, which, at 

 present, are the most important localities in the land ; and after 

 placing himself in communication with intelligent men in the various 

 clistricts frequented by the Beaver, and obtaining the information 

 they w r ere able to supply, he will in the present work give a resumé 

 of the particulars which are at present obtainable concerning the 

 past and present range, and habits of the Beaver in Norway. 



A. The Range of the Beaver irTNorway in former Times. 



Trade in Beaver skins was carried on early in the Middle Ages. 

 It is probable that most of the Norwegian Furs were exported to 

 England. But the animal itself, and its appearance have been, com- 

 paratively, seldom recorded. 



In 160S, P. Clafsson Feiis (p. 6) gives the first indication 

 of its range in Norway, as he speaks of its being in Thelemarken, 

 and the valleys of Nedenæs. Some mention of it is also made 

 1698, in Lillienskiold's „Speculum boreale 1 '. 



So early as the close of the 17th century, the Beaver had 

 begun to decrease, but the printed, or other sources from which 

 some knowledge might be derived concerning its range and habits 

 are very few. The animal itself is but seldom mentioned. even 

 when the writings treat of the natural features of the clistricts. 



