RODENT I A ARVICOLINAE FIBER ZIBETHICUS. 



563 



Measurements. 



1 The largest skull I have seen is No. 2300 from Washington ; this measures 2.85 inches by 1.75. 



Specimens vary from the preceding description in a more fuscous character of the tips of the 

 under fur, the reddish here sometimes nearly replaced by grayish brown, giving a much darker 

 impression to the animal. This is more particularly the case in winter killed skins. The size 

 is sometimes considerably greater than that described. 



The well known musk rat of the United States appears to have as wide a range throughout 

 North America as the beaver, and, unlike this species, maintains its foothold successfully 

 against the destructiveness of mankind. It extends at the present day from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific, and from the Rio Grande to the barren grounds of arctic America. The species is 

 quite abundant in Washington Territory, and appears to extend almost to the extreme north 

 western point of America. It was at one time supposed, indeed, that the musk rat was found 

 on the Asiatic side of Behring's Straits ; but it appears now to be ascertained that the skins 

 obtained from the Tschucktchis, of Kamschatka, are procured from the tribes on the American 

 shore. 



I have seen no specimens of muskrat from California ; but there is every probability of its 

 occurring there. 



Brandt mentions a dealer in St. Petersburg who possesses the art of so dressing the musk rat 

 as to impart to it the appearance of the fur seal, both as to color and quality. 



