552 Life-histories of Northern Animals 



to safety. Besides those constructed by themselves, the 

 Rats select and use ready-made landing places, such as roots 

 and stones by the water's edge. 



They commonly leave their dung on these jetties. This 

 marks them clearly, and probably serves for a record, as 

 already noted (see Fig. 155). 



In voiding its dung the animal prefers to have its body 

 dry and its tail in the water. One which I kept in captivity 

 was so particular about this that it invariably turned its tail 

 end into the little water trough, keeping that in a very un- 

 fragrant condition, although the water was changed more than 

 once each day. The origin of this custom was no doubt in 

 the necessity for keeping the house clean. This they could 

 be sure of doing if each time, each Muskrat took the trouble 

 to drop its tail over the threshold into the canal, which thus 

 formed at once waterway, moat, and trunk-sewer for the 

 inhabitants. 



MiGRA- In September, and sometimes later, an erratic migration 



takes place. At this season they travel overland for a consider- 

 able distance, as far as a mile or two from the water. They 

 are then likely to be found in various odd places. I have 

 seen them in outhouses, in wheat-fields, and on the open 

 prairie at such times. When thus discovered they commonly 

 show fight, even going out of the way to attack the disturber 

 of their peace. 



rJ!^:^,, ^ once knew a migrant and militant Muskrat hold three 



horses and a mower at bay, when the field of grain was all 

 cut except the short central swathe in which the wanderer had 

 taken refuge. 



On another occasion, while travelling over the prairies 

 with oxen, they swerved aside from the trail and I caught a 

 glimpse of something leaping at the nose of the near ox. I 

 jumped from the wagon, the cattle ran away, leaving me to 

 face — a big Muskrat. It had disputed the trail with the oxen, 

 and now came straight at me. Leaping for my leg, it fixed 

 its teeth in my trousers and held on till it was killed. This 



NACITY 



