GREAT PLAINS MUSKRAT 105 



best. In this way something is realized in the way of protection, 

 and at the same time, the skin is thrown upon the market. 



Various means of protecting property from damage by muskrats 

 have met with considerable success, and a few of these may be 

 mentioned here. 



In the construction of dams and bridges the use of concrete 

 foundations will entirely obviate any likelihood of damage from 

 muskrats, besides rendering the structures safe from other danger 

 for many years. 



The use of sand or coarse gravel on the surface of embankments 

 for artificial ponds and the like will prevent muskrats from bur- 

 rowing, since the sand and gravel fill in the. hole as rapidly as it 

 is opened. 



Gardens and truck patches may be protected from muskrats by 

 erecting a galvanized wire fence at least three feet in height and 

 of one and one-half inch mesh entirely around the plot or at least 

 on the side bordering the stream or pond. The lower edge of the 

 fence should be set down into the earth at least six inches in order to 

 prevent the animals from digging beneath it. 



GREAT PLAINS MUSKRAT. 

 Fiber zibethicus cinnamominus Hollister. 



Fiber zibethicus cinnamominus Hollister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 

 XXIII, 125, September 2, 1910. 



Description. "Fresh, pelage: Upper parts and sides cinnamon 

 brown, dorsal areas only slightly darker, with few black hairs. 

 Nose to forehead and eyes seal brown. Cheeks and underparts 

 creamy clay color, lighter on neck, throat, and inner sides of legs. 

 A very small brown spot on chin. Feet drab; nails yellowish. Tail 

 dark brown. Warn pelage: Varying from wood brown to russet, 

 depending upon the state of wear or renewal. Specimens in the 

 short-haired early fall pelage are the darkest, and those in extreme 

 faded or washed out early summer coat are the lightest. ' ?23 



Measurements. Total length, 19.00 inches; tail vertebrae, 9.20 

 inches; hind foot, 2.80 inches. 



This form averages smaller than the common muskrat, and the 

 teeth are smaller than in that form. Also paler, the coloration is 

 with considerable red or reddish in the pelage. "With these ex- 



^Hollister, N., A Systematic Synopsis of the Muskrats: N. A. Fauna, No. 32, 

 30, 1911. 



