Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 231 



The flesh of the Muskrat is palatable and is more generally eaten 

 than most people suppose; in this connection the following state- 

 ment by Lantz is of interest: "In February, 1907, the Philadelphia 

 Record stated that a single dealer in Dock street in that city sold about 

 3,000 muskrats a week for food. The chief source of this supply was 

 stated to be in the vicinity of Salem, N. J. The Saginaw (Mich.) 

 Courier-Herald states that in the season of 1907-8 dressed muskrats 

 in that place retailed at from 15 to 20 cents each, and that dealers had 

 ready sale for all they could provide. Muskrat is said to be a favorite 

 dish at dinners given by church societies in Delaware and Maryland, 

 and annual muskrat banquets are a feature with certain gun clubs in 

 the West. Those of the Munroe (Mich.) Marsh Club have been cele- 

 brated for many years." * Kennicott informs us that in early days the 

 Pottawattamie Indians ate the flesh of the muskrat boiled with corn 

 or roasted, and that hunters and trappers "esteem the tail a great 

 delicacy." 



Immense numbers of these animals are annually trapped for their 

 skins which are in popular demand among the cheaper class of furs. 

 According to Lantz the records of the London importation and sales 

 are as follows: "From 1763 to 1800 (thirty-eight years) the total 

 number of skins imported and sold in that market was 2,831,453, an 

 average of less than 75,000 yearly. During the fifty years from 1801 

 to 1850 the total was 20,571,428, or an average of 411,000 yearly. From 

 1851 to 1890, inclusive, the importations were 99,893,591, a yearly 

 average of 2,500,000. The average London sales in recent years have 

 been over 4,000,000 per annum, and the entire output of skins for 1900 

 was 5,285,000. A large part of the total collection is sold through 

 London, but in the last few years an increasing number are dressed and 

 manufactured in America." (/. c, p. 24) 



Specimens examined from Illinois, Wisconsin and adjoining states: 



Illinois — Libertyville, i ; Chicago, 4; Warsaw, 1 = 6. 



Wisconsin ■ — ■ Sayner, i ; Milton, i ; Green Bay, 2 ; Conover, i ; Eagle 

 River, i; Beaver Dam, 3; (M. P. M.) Milwaukee, i; Muskego 

 Lake, Waukesha Co., i; Pewaukee, 5; Delavan, 2; Maiden Rock, 

 i; (0. C.) Mercer, 15 (skulls); Turtle Lake, Barron Co., i; Lake 

 Pewaukee, 4; Cedar Lake, Turtle River, Iron Co., i; Colfax, Dunn 

 Co., 12 (skulls) = 52. 



Minnesota — Aitken, 3. 



Iowa — Mayfield, 7. 



Indiana — La Porte, 2. , 



*U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bull. 396, 1910, p. 22. 



