Summary
The European beaver (castor fiber) has been extinct in Britain since the late 16th century. Even in the 12th century, mediaeval chronicler Gerald of Wales claimed the animals were only to be found in two rivers in Britain: one in Scotland and one in Wales.
One of the largest rodents in the world, it was hunted for its fur - Inverness became a major trading centre with links to the continent - and for its oil. Castoreum, the glandular secretion of the beaver, was valued for its purported medicinal properties as it contains salicylic acid, an important ingredient in the manufacture of aspirin. The beaver's meat, while in less demand than the pelt, was sometimes used as food. Scottish fur trappers were much in demand in the early days of opening up the North American continent.See the full content of this document
Extract
Brief History of the Dam Busted
To say that the beaver...
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