Mammal Study 219 



than the hind ones. The muskrat track is, however, characterized by the 

 tail imprint. When the creature jumps through the snow, the mark of 

 the tail follows the paired imprints of the feet; when it walks, there is a 

 continuous line made by this strong, naked tail. This distinguishes the 

 track of the muskrat from that of the mink, as the bushy tail of the latter 

 does not make so distinct a mark. Measuring the track, is simply a 

 device for making the pupils note its size and shape more carefully. The 

 tracks may be looked for during the thaws of March or February, when 

 the muskrats come out of the water to seek food. 



In appearance the muskrat is peculiar. The body is usually about a 

 foot in length and the tail about eight inches. The body is stout and 

 thickset, the head is rounded and looks like that of a giant meadow 

 mouse; the eyes are black and shining; the ears are short and close to the 

 head; the teeth, like those of other rodents, consist of a pair of front 

 teeth on each jaw, then a long, bare space and four grinders on each side. 

 There are long sensitive hairs about the nose and mouth, like the whiskers 

 of mice. 



The muskrat's hind legs are much larger and stronger than the front 

 ones; and too, the hind feet are much longer than the front feet and have 

 a web between the toes; there are also stiff hairs which fill the space 

 between the toes, outside the web, thus making this large hind foot an 

 excellent swimming organ. The front toes are not webbed and are used 

 for digging. The claws are long, stout and sharp. The tail is long, stout 

 and flattened at the sides; it has little or no fur upon it but is covered 

 with scales; it is used as a scull and also as a rudder when the muskrat is 



swimming. 



The muskrat's outer coat consists of long rather coarse hairs; its 

 under coat is of fur, very thick and fine, and although short, it forms a 

 waterproof protection for the body of the animal. In color, the fur is 

 dark brown above with a darker streak along the middle of the back; 

 beneath, the body is grayish changing to whitish on the throat and lips, 

 with a brown spot on the chin. In preparing the pelts for commercial 

 use, the long hairs are plucked out leaving the soft, fine under coat, which 

 is dyed and sold under the name of "electric seal." 



The muskrat is far better fitted by form, for life in the water than upon 

 the land. Since it is heavy-bodied and short -legged, it cannot run rapidly 

 but its strong, webbed hind feet are most efficient oars, and it swims 

 rapidly and easily; for rudder and propeller the strong, flattened tail 

 serves admirably, while the fine fur next the body is so perfectly water- 

 proof that, however, much the muskrat swims or dives, it is never wet. 

 It is a skillful diver and can stay under water for several minutes; when 

 swimming, its nose and sometimes the head and the tip of the tail appear 

 on the surface of the water. 



The food of muskrats is largely roots, especially those of the sweet flag 

 and the yellow lily. They also feed on other aquatic plants and are fond 

 of the fresh -water shell-fish. Mr. Sharp tells us, in one of his delightful 

 stories, how the muskrats wash their food by sousing it up and down in 

 water many times before eating it. Often, a muskrat chooses some 

 special place upon the shore which it uses for a dining-room, bringing 

 there and eating pieces of lily root or fresh-water clams, and leaving the 

 debris to show where it habitually dines. It does most of its hunting for food 

 at night, although sometimes it may be seen thus employed during the day. 



