Castorid/E. MAMMALIA. Castorida!. 137 
that “ in the winter it travels under the snow in a 
semi-cylindrical furrow, very neatly cut to the depth of 
two inches and a half in the mossy turf. These hollow 
ways cross each other at various angles, but occasion- 
ally run to a considerable distance in a straight direc- 
tion. From their smoothness, it was evident that they 
were not merely worn by the feet, but actually cut by 
the teeth.” The muzzle of this species is blunt, and 
the nose of a black colour ; the fur has a chestnut hue, 
being gi’eyish underneath. 
THE SLEPEZ {Spalax typhlus), or Blind Mole- 
RAT, is a very singular animal (fig. 47). It is also 
Fig. 47. 
known by the names of Podolian Marmot, Zemni, and 
Sfochor Nomon, the latter name being that employed by 
the Cossacks. It is characterized by the presence of 
large incisor teeth, and twelve complex molars. The 
head is even broader than the body, flat, on the crown, 
and truncated in front. There are no ears ; whilst the 
eyes are almost rudimentary, being represented by tiny 
specks partly concealed by the fur. The limbs and 
feet are short, and armed with small claws. The fur is 
soft, dense, and of an ashy-grey colour, inclining to red. 
This animal, observes Mr. Broderip, “burrows exten- 
sively beneath the turf, driving at intervals lateral pass- 
ages in its search for roots, particularly that of the 
bulbous ChcErophyllum. Openings to the surface occur 
at distances of some yards from each other, and there 
the earth is raised into hillocks, sometimes of two yards 
in circumference, and of considerable height. It works 
stoutly and rapidly, and on the approach of an enemy 
instantly digs a perpendicular burrow. Though it can- 
not see, it lifts its head in a menacing attitude towards 
its assailant, and when irritated snorts and gnashes its 
teeth, but emits no cry ; its bite is very severe. In the 
morning it often quits its hole, and during the season 
of love basks in the sun with the female.” According 
to a popular superstition in the Ukraine, any one who 
has squeezed this animal to death in his hand, and who 
has been bitten by it in so doing, has conferred on him- 
self the power of curing goitre by merely touching those 
who are suflering from this disease. The Slepez is 
about eight inches in length. 
Family VI.— CASTORID^. 
The Beavers are readily distinguished from all other 
Rodents by their flattened scaly tail, which in the tj'pical 
species has an oval outline. The molar teeth are 
VoL. 1. 1 8 
twelve in number ; they have flattened crowns, the 
inner border of the upper series being marked by a 
single enamelled fold, and the outer by three folds; 
this complicated arrangement is reversed in the lower 
series (fig. 42). The feet are pentadactylous, the digits 
of the hinder feet being clothed at the margins by long 
hairs. The tail is more than half the length of the body, 
being double-edged towards the free end, and covered 
throughout Avith scales and short hairs. The habits of 
the beavers are aquatic. F ossil remains of several spe- 
cies have been found in various parts of Europe ; some 
of those obtained from the crag deposits in Norfolk and 
Suffolk differing in several respects from the 
skeletons of those now living, and being, in the 
view of Professor Owen, clearly distinctive of 
a much larger species. There can be no doubt, 
however, that the Beaver, which, though scarce, 
is still living in Europe, formerly abounded in 
Great Britain ; and there is every reason to 
believe that it is identical with the American 
species, which we have noAV to describe. 
THE COMMON BEAVER [Castor fiber) — 
Plate 15, fig. 50. — This well-known animal is 
one of the largest, and at the same time the 
most interesting of all the Rodents, and con- 
sequently demands at our hands a more length- 
ened consideration than any of the foregoing. 
The body measures nearly three and a half feet in 
length, exclusive of the tail, which would give another 
eleven or twelve inches. Ordinarily the fur has a 
rich reddish-brown colour; thougli in some cases it 
is spotted, in others black, and in a third rare variety 
quite Avhite. In Europe the Beaver occurs sparingly 
along the banks of the Rhone, the Danube, and tlie 
Weser ; but in the northern districts of Canada it is 
still veiy abundant in places. At one time such were 
the multitudes destroyed annually, that it Avas feared this 
useful animal Avould become totally extinct. To pre- 
vent this, hoAvever, the furriers of the Hudson’s Bay 
Company and certain Indian tribes, have adopted 
arrangements by Avhich a moderate supply of furs 
Avill ahvays be forthcoming, for the manufacture 
of hats and other articles. The most interesting 
circumstance in the history of these animals is the 
extraordinary skill they display in the construction of 
their dams and dAvellings. Many excellent records of 
their habits, in this particular, have from time to time 
appeared ; but for minuteness and accuracy of detail 
none have equalled the account given by the traveller 
Hearne in his “Journey to the Northern Ocean.” 
We shall, therefore, record his observations in extenso, 
which are as folloAvs : ■ — ■ “ Where the beavers are 
numerous, they are found to irJiabit lakes, ponds, and 
rivers, as Avell as those narroAv creeks Avhich connect 
the numerous lakes Avith Avhich this country abounds ; 
but the tAvo latter are generally chosen by them, Avhen 
the depth of Avater and other circumstances are suit- 
able, as they have then the advantage of a current to 
convey Avood and other necessaries to their habitations, 
and because in general they are more difficult to be 
taken than those that are built in standing Avater. 
They ahvays choose those parts that have such a depth 
of Avater as Avill resist the frost in Avinter, and prevent 
The Slepez or Blind Mole-rat (Spalax typhlusj. 
