ORDER OE RODENTIA. 
477 
was found lying lifeless at the door of those he had taken for his 
friends. Was it because he had asked to live with them, and that, 
not knowing him, they refused to accede to his demand, which 
resulted in a struggle which terminated in his death P 
“It is with reluctance that we can believe that such an act of 
ferocity could be committed by animals which have the greatest 
aversion for blood, which are the opponents of rapine and war, 
which are endowed with such a mild and pacific character, and 
are essentially devoted to liberty.”* 
It is not only the fur of the Beaver that is in demand : there is 
also another particular product named castor eum, which is used in 
medicine as an antispasmodic. This is an odoriferous substance, 
secreted by two glands situated at the root of the tail. Two other 
pouches in their vicinity produce an oil, which lubricates their 
coats, and renders them impervious to water. Further, we are 
assured that the flesh of the Beaver is edible, and that the North 
American Indians and white traders consider it a bonne-bouche. 
The Castors inhabit the northern regions of the two continents. 
They are found in Europe, Asia, and America. In Asia, they are 
only to be met with in Siberia and Northern Tartary ; in Europe, 
in Russia, Poland, Prussia, Austria, and the south of France. 
In former times they were found in every part of France, and 
probably Great Britain. 
Fossil remains of the Beaver have been discovered near 
Paris, and the little Bievre river appears to have been so named 
in consequence of the Beavers which lived on its banks. The 
Castors of the Rhone are called Bievres by the people of Southern 
France. 
Myopotamus. — The genus Myopotamus (River-Rats) greatly 
resembles the Beaver. They are about the same size, and, like 
the latter, have palmated feet ; but their tail is cylindrical and 
scaly. 
The only known species of Myopotamus is the Coypou {Myopo- 
tamus coy pus, Mus coy pus molina), which is very common in Chili 
and La Plata, and is also, though more rarely, found in Brazil 
and the other states of South America, where the natives inces- 
santly persecute it on account of its valuable fur. As it remains in 
its burrow during the day, it is hunted at night with Dogs. Some 
* L'Annee Illustree , 12 March., 1868. 
