1866.] LORD — MUSK-RATS AS BUILDERS. 49 



less concave and smoother ; superior outline of occipital bone not 

 so prominent or strong ; incisors shorter and much straighter ; 

 molars much smaller, but in general outline similar. 



And now I must ask my readers to accompany me, in imagina- 

 tion, to the Osoyoos Lakes, on the eastern side of the Cascade 

 Mountains, where my attention was first directed to the rush- 

 building rat, as being distinct in species from that which burrows 

 in the mud banks. The specific name osoyoosensis was given in 

 commemoration of the locality. 



This magnificent piece of water is formed by the widening out 

 of the Okanagen river as it passes through a deep valley, walled 

 in by massive piles of rock. The Osoyoos Lake may be defined 

 as one huge lake, or three smaller ones, with equal correctness ; 

 as a narrowing in at particular points, gives the appearance of an 

 actual division into separate lakes. The ' boundary-line ' runs 

 through its centre, so that one half the lake belongs to Britain 

 (its northern half), the southern to the United States. The 

 shore is sandy, like a sea-beach, and strewn thickly with fresh- 

 water shells along the ripple line, gives it quite a tidal aspect. 

 On either side, a sandy, treeless waste stretches away to the base of 

 the hills, so carpeted with cacti — which grow in small knobs covered 

 with spines, like vegetable porcupines — that walking on it without 

 being shod with the very thickest boots, is to endure indescribable 

 torture ; the prickles are so sharp and hard that they slip through 

 ordinary leather like cobbler's awls. I had to tie up both dogs 

 and horses, for the latter, getting the prickly knobs into their 

 heels, kicked and plunged until exhausted. The dogs at once got 

 three or four fast to their feet ; when impatiently seizing the 

 vegetable pests, the prickles stuck with like pertinacity to the 

 tongue and cheeks. I have no hesitation in savins a dosr must 



sayim 



inevitably die from starvation if he - ventured to cross this waste 

 alone ; once getting the cactus prickles in his mouth, unaided he 

 could never free himself. A low ' divide ' separates this valley from 

 the Similkameen. The water from the lakes eventually finds its 

 way into the Columbia river. If there is an Eden for water- 

 birds, Osoyoos Lakes must surely be that favoured spot. At the 

 upper end a perfect forest of tall rushes, six feet in height, affords 

 ducks, grebes, bitterns, and a variety of waders, admirable breed- 

 ing haunts ; safe alike from the prying eyes of birds that prey oa 

 their kindred, and savages that devour anything. 



Vol. III. d No. 1. 



