256 



MAMMALS OF AMERICA 



prolific. Otherwise, they could hardly hold their 

 own against their many enemies. To live a long- 

 life a Musk-rat must be ever on the alert. Some 

 of the larger hawks and owls attack it from 

 the air ; wolves, foxes, lynxes, weasels, wol- 

 verines and many other animals prey upon it 

 when it ventures on land ; otters and mink are 

 able to follow it in the water : and the bigger 

 members of the pike family may seize it from 

 below. The mink, however, is the worst of 

 these, for it can follow the Musk-rat into its 

 home. Like the Beaver, the Musk-rat is most 

 susceptible to attacks from its land enemies 

 when it goes on voyages of discovery from one 

 body of water to another, as it often does in 

 late fall. It is no coward and will fight to the 

 death. It has been known to attack even a man 

 when cornered far from a place of refuge. 



To see the Beaver at its work one must usu- 

 ally go far from civilization : but the Musk-rat 



is at home in any small pond, bit of swamp, or 

 deep brook within a few rods of one's house. 

 A little quiet watching in the late afternoon will 

 enable any village dweller to become rather inti- 

 mately acquainted with this hardy and interesting 

 neighbor. 



Many may not know the Musk-rat so well in 

 life, as after death. Then it comes into closer 

 contact, as its dense under hair-covering makes 

 it of value for fur. Several million skins are 

 taken annually, and, after being dyed, are sold 

 under such names as " electric seal ", or " Hud- 

 son seal." 



The damage done by the Musk-rat is very 

 slight. Sometimes it tunnels into dams and 

 dikes and weakens them. In ornamental ponds 

 it occasionally eats the roots and stems of water- 

 lilies and other aquatic plants. 



J. M. Johnson. 



ROUND-TAILED MUSK-RAT 

 Neofiber alleni True 



General Description. — A large, rat-like rodent much 

 resembling the Musk-rat, but having a round tail. 

 Size smaller than latter ; head rather blunt ; ears incon- 

 spicuous ; body somewhat robust; tail long, nearly half 

 total length, round, tapering gradually to tip; legs of 

 moderate length ; feet normal ; toes not bent laterally at 

 angle with the sole ; soles naked, narrow, smooth, with 

 five tubercles ; conspicuous side glands present ; general 

 color rufous, lined with black; below white tinged with 

 rufous. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors,—^ ; Canines, -~- ; Pre- 



I — I o— o 



molars. 5^; Molars, ^~^=i6 



0-0 3—3 ' • 



Pelage. — Adults : Sexes identical, seasonal varia- 

 tion inconspicuous. Pelage long, above rufous lined 



with black, the hairs with lead colored bases ; head 

 darker ; hairs back of shoulders white at base ; under- 

 parts light rufous with bases of hairs lead color; chin, 

 throat, inside of legs, whitish or tinged with rufous ; 

 tail and feet dark brown. Young : Blueish-gray on 

 back ; pale plumbeous beneath. 



Measurements. — Total length, 13 inches; tail verte- 

 brae. 5 inches; hind foot, 1.5 inches. 



Range. — Eastern and central Florida. 



Food. — Green vegetation, roots and some animal 

 food. 



Remarks. — There is only the one species. This 

 animal appears to be somewhat intermediate between 

 the little Meadow Mice and the more highly specialized 

 Musk-rat, and is known only from a very limited range. 



While called a Musk-rat, this less familiar ani- 

 mal occupies a group by itself, intermediate be- 

 tween the smaller Mice and its big cousin the 

 common Musk-rat. It is very large for a 

 Mouse, but small for a Musk-rat, since it is 

 slightly over one-half as long as the latter. It 

 is at home in both the fresh and salt-water 

 ponds, and marshes of Eastern Florida. A large 

 oval nest, resembling the common Musk-rat's, is 

 built in water, and projects above the surface. 

 Sometimes nests are built in the mangroves or 

 in hollow stumps. 



It also constructs jjlatforms on x.hich it sits 

 while feeding. The food consists largely of 



grasses and other vegetable matter, although it 

 does not disdain clams, and other marine forms 

 that can be easily captured. 



Many of its habits are similar to those of the 

 common Musk-rat. It is a quick, alert animal, 

 though perhaps not so industrious as its North- 

 ern cousin, as the warmer climate naturally 

 leads to sluggishness, and it does not have to 

 build such snug retreats against the approach 

 of winter. It raises large and frequent families, 

 whose members are much sought after, by such 

 unwelcome guests as hawks, owls, foxes and the 

 larger fish. The young that escape quickly attain 

 mattirity in the warm climate. 



