488 



EEPOET OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



upper colors are hazel brown and the rump and thighs bright cin- 

 namon rufous, the under parts broccoli brown, making it a much 

 duller and paler colored animal than the Canadian beaver." 



The general appearance of beavers is well known. The form is 

 short and thick-set, the hind feet webbed and with but four toes, 

 the second toe having two claws. The tail is broad and flat, devoid 

 of hair but covered with scales. 



Skull and teeth. — The skull is extremely large and strong, with 

 large flat molar teeth and strong processes for the attachment of 

 the muscles used in mastication. 



Range. — The Carolina beaver formerly ranged throughout the 

 eastern United States, except New England, the Allegheny Moun- 

 tains and possibly the Canadian border, in which places the Cana- 

 dian beaver replaced it. 



In Indiana it was once found throughout the State, but disap- 

 peared almost as soon as the bison and elk. The Prince of Wied 

 states that it was exterminated at New Harmony previous to 1832, 

 and Dr. Plummer wrote in 1844 that beaver dams were still to be 

 seen alpout Richmond, but he knew of no one who had ever seen 

 beavers there. However, Mr. E. J. Chansler t^lls me that a beaver 

 was taken near Vincennes in 1840 by Mr. F. Dubois. Evermann 

 and Butler say that a beaver was taken near New Harmony ''not 

 many years ago" (1888). They also say that a beaver was seen in 

 the Wabash River near Lafayette in 1889. I place little credence 

 in these last two records, for the consensus of opinion is that the 

 species was exterminated all over the State not later than 1840. 



Habits. — Most natural histories contain good accounts of the 

 habits of beavers, and this account will, therefore, be less extensive 

 than these interesting animals might otherwise deserve. Macfar- 

 lane states that in the Northwest territories of Canada the beavers 

 mate in January or February and from four to eight young are 

 born three months later, the usual number of young for a mature 

 female being four, five or six. They are small and quite naked and 

 helpless at first, but grow rapidly and in a few weeks begin to eat 

 succulent plants. The females do not breed until about three years 

 old. The males fight desperately for mates during the breeding 

 season, but appjircntly rciiuiin faithful to the mates they choose and 

 Mssist in rcnrin^' llic yoiin^. 



These nnimnls liave instincts spcciali/xHl to a high degree and 

 ar(; comnionly su|)i)osed to be very intelligent, nllhough it has not 

 been shown tliat their intelligence extends very far in the way of 



