496 APPENDIX. 



it has all these names, — resembles the beaver in some 

 respects, particularly in the fur ; but it has a long tail, 

 which, instead of being depressed or spread out hori- 

 zontally, is compressed and tapering. The musquash 

 is very prolific, producing three litters in a season, and 

 breeding at a very early age. Every swamp or pond 

 with grassy borders is inhabited by it, up to the shores 

 of the Arctic sea ; and notwithstanding the vast num- 

 bers that are annually destroyed by numerous enemies, 

 there is no danger of its being extirpated. The import 

 of musquash skins into Great Britain in one year amounts 

 to nearly half a million. The fur is employed in the ma- 

 nufacture of hats, and though inferior in quality to the 

 beaver fur, is very generally substituted for it by the hat- 

 makers. 



American Field-mouse. Mus lencopus, (Rafinesque.) 



F. B. A. 1. p. 142. 



This mouse, which is the representative of the Mas 

 sylvaticus of Europe, is very abundant in the fur countries, 

 taking the place of the domestic mouse, and speedily 

 establishing itself in every new fur post that is erected. 

 It multiplies rapidly, as there is no domestic rat to keep 

 down its numbers; though that office is occasionally per- 

 formed by the ermine, as we have already mentioned. 



The American Hare. Lepus Americanus. (Erxleben.) 



F. B. A. 1. p. 217. 



This animal, which is named " wawpoos " by the Cree 

 Indians, and " the rabbit " by the resident traders at 

 Hudson's Bay, is very plentiful throughout the wooded 

 country. The bark of the willow constituting its chief 



