380 
The Mufk 
Rat. 
A*JOURNEY TO THE 
latter. In Summer they are of a tawney brown, 
but in Winter of a delicate white all over, ex- | 
cept the tip of the tail, which is of a glofly black, | 
They are, for their fize, the ftrongeft and moft 
courageous animal I: know: as they not. only 
kill partridges, but even attack rabbits with great 
fuccefs. They fometimes take up their abode in 
the out-offices and provifion-fheds belonging to 
the Factories ; and though they commit fome de- 
predations, make ample amends by killing great 
numbers of mice, which are very numerous and 
deftructive at moft of the fettlements in the Bay. 
I have taken much pains to tame and dometticate 
this beautiful animal, but never could fucceed ; 
for the longer I kept it the more reftlefs and im- 
patient it became. 
Animals with Cutting Teeth. 
The Musk Rat, or MusquasH; or, as Natura- 
lifts call it, the Musk Braver; is common in 
thofe parts; generally frequenting ponds and 
deep fwamps that do not freeze dry in Winter. 
The manner of life of this fpecies of animals is 
peculiar, and refembles that of the Beaver, as” 
they are in fome refpects provident, and build 
houfes to fhelter themfelves from the inclemency 
of the cold in Winter; but inftead of making 
thofe houfes on the banks of ponds or fwamps, 
like the Beaver, they generally build them on the 
ice 
