SEWELLEL FAMILY 



209 



appearance, but quickly took on a dull listless- 

 ness when the animal relaxed at ease. 



His body was very hard and firm to the touch. 

 When running loose on the floor and I put my 

 hand upon him, he seemed to brace himself and 

 become rigid at times. He could give sharp 

 scratches when held, but did not seem to be able 

 to squirm very effectually because of his short 

 thick neck. 



By the end of a week he had become so tame 

 that he never threatened to bite. He seemed to 

 accept the conditions as inevitable and, not show- 

 ing any appreciation of caresses that some tame 

 animals display, his attitude was one of complete 

 indifference. He soon cut off the toes from the 

 foot that had been pinched in the trap, but 

 evinced no concern over the fact. No attempt 

 was made to gnaw out of the box that kept him 

 prisoner. 



A pronounced musky odor is given off by the 

 animal and is noticeable in skins some months 

 old. It is very noticeable in a freshly killed 

 animal, it having a strong penetrating quality, 

 rather pleasant than otherwise. It recalls, most 

 nearlv, the scent of the Musk-Rat. 



;\o very young Showt'ls were noted. This 

 fact would indicate that there is a definite period 

 of birth in the spring, and not an indefinite term 

 extending over most of the early summer. 



A variety of plants form the food. All of the 

 more common plants and shrubs seemed to con- 

 tribute, those noted especially being the thimble- 

 berry, the large elk brake and the sword-fern, 

 l)ut in general any of the green leaved ]5lants 

 might be eaten. Leaves alone are eaten, and 

 there was no evidence that the bark or roots 

 were consumed. I was told by the farmers that 

 the Showt'l not infrequently cuts piles of green 

 vegetation and leaves it outside to cure into hay. 

 taking it into the burrow presumably to store 

 up, a proceeding like that of the Cony. 



The Showt'l escapes a great deal of unwelcome 

 attention from such enemies as hawks or owls, 

 owing to the dense vegetation beneath which 

 he works and also to his nocturnal habits. How- 

 ever, prowling animals use his burrows, for two 

 \\'easels were caught on successive nights in one 

 runway, and I was told that Skunks were also 

 caught in such runways. 



H. E. Anthony. 



Photograph by H. E. Anlbony 



SEWELLEL FEEDING 



This animal is sometimes called the " Mountain Beaver ", but while not afraid of the water, it does not 



take to it, as the Beaver does 



