Mr Neill on the Beavers of Scotland. 17T 
I can, however, only add, that as doubtless there are many 
more circumstances upon which the philosophical enquirer may 
wish to be satisfied respecting the habits of David Tate, I shall 
be happy to communicate any information respecting the me- 
dium through which his queries may be best answered. — I am, 
&c. 
Edinburgh, 819^ 
XXXIII. Proofs that the Beaver was formerly a native of 
Scotland^ including an account of some Fossil Remains of that 
animal found in Perthshire and Berwichshire. By Patrick 
Neill, F. R. S. Ed. F. A. S. & Sec. W. S, Communicated 
by the Author 
It has generally been believed, and probably not without rea- 
son, that the beaver (Castor Fiber, Lin.) was once indigenous to 
different parts of Britain, particularly Wales and Scotland. I 
shall first notice the evidence of the existence, in former times, 
of the beaver in Wales ; for, in this way, as will presently ap- 
pear, some light may be thrown on the question of its having 
likewise been one of the native quadrupeds of Scotland. 
The earliest written authority on this subject with which I 
am acquainted, is contained in a remarkable document of the 
9th century, which has been fortunately preserved and publish- 
ed, — the Laws of Howel the Good-f*. In Book hi. § 11, 1^. 
where the prices of furs are regulated. 
The Marten’s skin is valued at c?. 
The Otter’s (Ddyfrgi or Lutra) at 12 d. 
The Beaver’s (Llosdlydan or Castor) at no less than 120 d. 
or at five times the price of the marten’s fur, and ten times the 
price of the otter’s. From these brief entries, I think we are 
entitled to conclude, 1. That the beaver (by the legislator dis- 
tinguished by the descriptive and appropriate title of Llosdlydan 
or broad-tail, and, as it were, contrasted with the ddyfrgi, wa- 
* This paper. was read before the Wernerian Natural History Society on the 
1st of May 1819. 
•{* Leges Wallicse by Dr Wotton. 
VOL. I. NO. I. JUNE 1819. ^ 
M 
