The Fur Animals of Louisiana 



377 



On the left is a typical pelt of a Cameron parish muskrat pelt photographed with a 

 skin of K. z. macrodon from Maryland, the so-called "black muskrat" of the Eastern sea- 

 board marshes. I he heavy, beautiful and glossy-black guard hairs of the back being 

 responsible for the designation of "black rat" as the animal's fur is not jet black through- 

 out its pelage. 



The pelt on the left is from a Nevada muskrat, F. z. mergens, contrasted with a typical 

 terrebonne parish muskrat. Our muskrats average larger and have better color and guard 

 hairs than have the Western animals. 



