RATS AND MICE FAMILY 



255 



ally to the chambers above water level, and often 

 beneath the roots of trees. Small ventilation 

 holes connect these rooms with the ground sur- 

 face. Sometimes channels extend from the bur- 

 row entrance out into the deeper water, so that 

 the Musk-rat is more secure as it approaches its 

 home. Such channels are very prominent when 

 the water in a pond dries up. Short tunnels 

 ending in a chamber are sometimes made at 

 intervals along the edge of a pond, to be used 

 as retreats from danger when distant from 

 home. 



the ice in search of food, for they do not hiber- 

 nate to any extent. 



Everything is food that comes to the Musk- 

 rat's table. Roots, stems, leaves of various water 

 and swamp plants furnish the larger part of its 

 bill-of-fare, while heaps of fresh-water mussel- 

 shells (clams), at convenient landing places 

 along the water's edge, testify to its fondness for 

 flesh. Fish, frogs and other aquatic animals 

 also form part of its diet. 



\Mien the snow and ice have melted and the 

 warm spring rains have covered the land with 



Photograph by the U 



'ical Survey 



MUSK-RAT FEET 



The partially webbed structure of the hind feet of a Musk-rat aids it greatly in 



swimming 



The Musk-rat believes in " safety first," for it 

 avoids the attacks of many of its land enemies 

 — such as Foxes — by building little islands or 

 rafts of sticks, cattails and other plant stalks, on 

 which it sits when eating. An enemy must come 

 from the air or water to be dangerous. From 

 the former it escapes by slipping quickly into 

 the water. From the latter there is little chance 

 of getting away. These rafts are kept stationary 

 by being built around cattails or other plants 

 growing in such places. In winter, ice does not 

 cover these rafts completely, but snow soon 

 roofs them over, and they serve as breathing 

 holes when the Musk-rats are swimming under 



the tender green of awakening vegetation, the 

 Musk-rats mate, and savage fights may take 

 place for the possession of a desired female. 

 The four to twelve young are born in early May 

 in the latitude of the Eastern States, and are 

 blind and helpless, but in about three weeks have 

 grown so rapidly that they can nearly care for 

 themselves. This is necessary, for a second and 

 even a third litter may follow them during the 

 summer. In some localities four or five litters 

 are said to be produced in one breeding season. 

 By the end of the summer the young of the first 

 lot are able to raise families of their own. 

 It is fortunate for them that Musk-rats are so 



