88 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF MAMMALIA. 



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51. — Musquash. 



long; grass, which is incorporated with the walls of the 

 house from the mud being deposited amongst it, but the 

 animal does not appear to make any kind of composition 

 or mortar by tempering the mud and grass together. 

 There is, however, a dry bed of grass deposited in the 

 chamber. The entrance is under water. When ice 

 forms over the surface of the swamp, the musquash 

 makes breathing-holes through it, and protects them from 

 the frost by a covering of mud. In severe winters, how- 

 ever, these holes freeze up in spite of their coverings, 

 and many of the animals die. It is to be remarked that 

 the small grassy lakes selected by the musquash for its 

 residence are never so firmly frozen nor covered with 

 such thick ice as deeper and clearer water. The Indians 

 kill these animals by spearing them through the walls of 

 their houses, making their approach with great caution, 



