
490 MURIDA—ARVICOLA 
normal, except that, perhaps owing to danger from floods, it 
may carry its young about more than other animals, having been 
frequently noticed to transport the whole of its family in turn. 
The parent dives or swims with a young one in its mouth, 
holding it, according to Mr C. E. Pain,’ who saw the removal 
of five half-grown youngsters, under the throat near the fore legs. 
The leaf of a water-lily often forms a temporary receptacle. 

Fic, 81.—HORIZONTAL SECTION OF REFUGE OF WATER Rat, with two chambers, each large 
enough to hold one individual. (Diagrammatic, from a sketch by L. E, Adams.) 

a 
—— 
SS ——— ee 
$e 
Fic. 82.—REFUGE OF WATER RAT IN A STEEP BANK (width of refuge, 7 feet), the entrance 
just above normal water-level ; more complicated than in Fig. 81. (Diagrammatic, from a 
sketch by L. E. Adams.) 
Taylor (Zammals of the 1909 Nevada Expedition, Univ. California Pub. in Zool., 
24th June 1911, 221) finds difficulty of approach bearing a direct ratio to the size 
of the species to be observed, and Elliott Coues had already come to the same 
conclusion (Key to NV, Amer. Birds, ed. v., 15, 1903). ! Field, 6th June 1903, 950. 
