of a muskrat is in many respects like 

 that of the beaver, for which reason the 

 Indians call the two animals brothers, 

 and affirm that the beaver is the older 

 and more intelligent of the two. The 

 burrows of the muskrat consist of 

 plain underground chambers, with sev 

 eral tunnels, all terminating under 

 water, or of strongholds above ground. 

 These are of a round or dome shape, 

 stand on a heap of mud, and rise above 

 the surface of the water. They are 

 lined with reeds, reed grass, and sedge, 

 cemented with mud; the interior of the 

 "lodge" contains a single chamber 

 from sixteen to twenty-four inches in 

 diameter. A tunnel which opens be 

 neath the water leads to it. In winter 

 it lines its chambers softly with water 

 lilies, leaves, grasses, and reeds, pro 

 viding for ventilation by loosely cov 

 ering the center of the dome-shaped 

 roof with plants, which admit a suffi 

 cient quantity of fresh air and let the 

 vitiated air out. As long as the pond 

 or swamp does not freeze to the very 

 bottom it is said to lead a highly com 

 fortable existence in its warm habita 

 tion, which is often protected by a 

 covering of snow. Some observers say 

 that the food of the muskrat consists 

 almost wholly of aquatic plants, but 

 Audubon saw captive muskrats which 



were very fond of mussels. They are 

 very lively, playful creatures when in 

 the water. On a calm night many of 

 them may be seen in a mill-pond or 

 some other sequestered pool, "disport 

 ing themselves, crossing and recross- 

 ing in every direction, leaving long, 

 glittering ripples in their wake as they 

 swim, while others stand for a few 

 moments on little tufts of grass, stones, 

 or logs, from which they can reach 

 their food floating on the water; others 

 sit on the banks of the pond and then 

 plunge one after the other into water 

 like frogs." 



From three to six young are born in 

 a burrow. If caught young they are 

 easily tamed, and are of an equable 

 and gentle disposition. Although 

 some people dislike the fur on account 

 of the odor of musk which clings to 

 it for a long time, it is often used for 

 trimming clothing or in the manufac 

 ture of collars and cuffs, especially in 

 America and China. The best pelts 

 are deprived of the long outer fur, 

 dyed a dark brown color and used as a 

 trimming which resembles sealskin. 

 The animal is caught in traps baited 

 with apples. The Indians know ex 

 actly which "lodges" are inhabited; 

 they only eat the flesh, as the odor 

 does not seem to be disagreeable to 

 them. 



NOT A SPARROW FALLETH." 



GRANVILLE OSBORNE. 



NO traveler in Palestine, the land 

 of sacred memories, will need 

 an introduction to the sparrows. 

 They are as tame, troublesome, 

 vivacious, and impertinent, as their 

 numerous progeny across the seas. 

 They chirp and twitter, asserting their 

 rights of possession in places where 

 they are not welcome, industriously 

 building their nests in every available 

 nook and corner, and defending them 

 fearlessly against every feathered en- 

 croacher. They stop up the stove 



pipes and water-gutters with their rub 

 bish, build nests in the windows, and 

 under the eaves of the roofs, and have 

 not the least reverence for any place 

 or thing. You see them perching on 

 the loftiest spires of the Holy City, 

 flitting in and out of minaret and tower, 

 wherever an opening invites them to a 

 place of security and shelter for rear 

 ing their young. They nest in great 

 numbers in the bushes on the banks of 

 the River Jordan, and band together 

 in defending their nests against the 



125 



