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Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



above the fur of the head and are distinctive features, 

 although most writers have stated to the contrary. The 

 muskrat's eyes while bright and beady, are relatively small, 

 and in spite of this animal's nocturnal habits, do not seem 

 to mean as much to it as does its pronounced sense of smell 

 and very acute hearing. It is very thickly furred and, with 

 the exception of the small area surrounding the nostrils, 

 its muzzle is completely covered with hair and in addition 

 to long, pronounced "whiskers." 



The legs are short, with a marked difference in size 

 and appearance between the fore and hind members. The 

 fore legs are rather thin and diminutive when compared 

 to the other pair. Each has four toes and a rudimentary 

 thumb, all furnished with claws. In use. the fore paws 

 are rather hand-like and it is interesting to watch a musk- 

 rat pick up a stalk of its favorite food grass, turn it end 

 to end until the white, tender, juicy rooting part can be 

 brought in reach of its yellowed incisors. The hind legs are 

 larger and stouter, each leg having five distinct toes, united 

 by short webs at their bases. The feet and toes are fringed 

 by short, stiff hairs, which are undoubtedly an aid when 

 the animal is swimming. 



Drav.-:n^ rhowinp th» characteristic foot-prints of a muskrat. The smaller are the 

 front and the larger the back foot impressions. The waving line indicates the mark left 

 by the tail and termed the "tail d:ag." 



The tail of the muskrat is most odd. While long and 

 tapering, it is not round like that of most of its near rodent 

 relatvies, but is laterally scaly and compressed, and nearly 

 naked, being only thinly covered with hair. Usually the tail 

 is carried on its edge when the 'rat is swimming or walking, 

 but when at rest or sitting on its haunches, the tail flops 

 over on its flat side. The tail's use seems to have been the 

 subject of much controversy. It has three uses — as a sup- 



