Muskrat 



According to Mr. Bangs it builds a large oval nest, sometimes, 

 like that of the muskrat, situated in the water and rising above 

 the surface, and at other times among the mangroves or even in a 

 hollow stump. The former nests have two openings below which 

 communicate, when not covered by water, with underground pas- 

 sage ways. While the Neofiber swims with ease it is rarely seen 

 swimming about in the manner of the muskrat. 



Mr. Chapman states that their food consists of a succulent grass 

 which grows abundantly where they are found. "To procure the 

 younger and more tender portions Neofiber constructs a platform 

 of the larger stalks on which he sits and feeds at leisure on the 

 shoots growing in his vicinity; the size of the platform depends 

 upon the abundance of the food growing near it, the harder 

 rejected portions constantly adding to its bulk. 



Muskrat 



Fiber zibethicus Linnaeus 

 Called also Musquash. 



Length. 24 inches. 



Description. Body thick-set like a very large meadow mouse, legs short, 

 tail scaly, nearly naked and flat (compressed laterally.) Fur thick, 

 with a woolly underfur, colour dark brown above, somewhat tinged 

 with fulvous especially on the sides; beneath dull white, with scat- 

 tered fulvous hairs, white on the throat, with white lips, and a brown 

 spot on the chin. (Illustrations facing pp. 124.) 



Range. Eastern North America, southward to Virginia and the 

 middle Mississippi Valley. Replaced in Labrador, Newfound- 

 land, lower Mississippi Valley and Dismal Swamp by closely 

 related varieties. 



The muskrat, it seems to me, is just a little cousin of the 

 beaver. About the only striking outward difference between the 

 lives of the two is in the attitude each assumes toward man 

 and his works. 



The beaver is wild and retiring, hating man in his destruc- 

 tive advance along the quiet forest streams, which the beavef 

 family had held as their own for untold centuries, and refusing 

 to settle contentedly within sound of his works even where most 

 protected and undisturbed. 



