76 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



with a long nail. Hind feet long, the soles margined with long whitish hairs ; inner and outer 

 toes shortest, subequal ; the three others much longer, and the two middle ones united by a 

 short web. Claws moderate, slightly convex, and channelled beneath ; a row of stout and 

 coarse bristles on the edges of the toes. Tail vertically compressed, thin on the edges, slightly 

 wider beyond the middle, tapering gradually to its acute tip ; its surface is covered with small 

 rounded scales, not concealed by the sparse white hairs. The fur consists of a fine dense 

 down, resembling that of the beaver, but not so fine ; this is intermixed with longer subrigid 

 hairs. Upper incisors large, yellowish, slightly rounded, and without grooves ; the lower 

 rounded, longer andmore pointed. The molars resemble in their structure those of the suc- 

 ceeding family, but have distinct roots. 



Color. Dark brown above, intermixed with reddish on the sides of neck and body. Chin, 

 throat and posterior parts of the abdomen greyish or dark ash. Edges of the tail darker than 

 the rest. Occasional varieties are found entirely black, wholly white, or varied with black and 

 white. 



Total length, IS'O - 20*0. 



Tail alone, 7-0- 10-0. 



The Musquash or Muskrat is so called from its strong musky odor, which is secreted from 

 glands near the anus. It is a well-known inhabitant of our swamps and low grounds, and 

 generally in every place in the vicinity of water. Although it establishes its abode often in 

 the vicinity of man, its watchfulness is so great that it often escapes his snares. As might be 

 inferred from its structure, its movements on land are awkward and slow, but it swims and 

 dives with great ease in the water. It is a nocturnal animal, feeding on the roots of aquatic 

 plants, and is said to be particularly fond of the calamus root ( C. acorus). It is also extremely 

 fond of the fresh-water muscle ( Unio), heaps of which, in a gnawed and comminuted state, 

 may be found near their retreats. They form extensive holes or burrows in banks, and some- 

 times build small conical hillocks, in which they live and rear their young. The injuries 

 which they occasion to artificial embankments by their burrows, which gradually render them 

 pervious to water, are well known. 



The geographical range of the Musquash is very extensive, being found from 30° to 69° 

 north latitude. From some causes with which we are unacquainted, the Musquash, according 

 to Bartram, is not seen in the alluvial of Carolina and Georgia, although it occurs much fur- 

 ther south at a distance from the coast. In this State the skins sell for twenty-five cents apiece, 

 and are extensively used in the fabrication of hats. 



