II. CAPTURE OF ANIMALS. 



It will be useful to the inexperienced trapper to have some 

 account of the appearance and habits of each animal in con- 

 nection with instructions for capturing it. Such information 

 is often indispensable as the basis of plans and contrivances 

 for capture. I shall confine myself to brief descriptions in 

 common language, not attempting any thing scientific ; and I 

 shall avail myself of the help of books where my own obser- 

 vation and experience fail. 



THE MUSKRAT OR MUSQUASH. 



This is an animal of amphibious habits. Its head and body 

 are from thirteen to fifteen inches in length. The tail is nine 

 or ten inches long, two-edged, and for two thirds its length 

 I'udder-shaped, and covered with scales and thin, short hair, 

 the edges being heavily fringed. The hind feet are slightly 

 webbed ; so that it can " feather the oar," as boatmen say, 

 when they are brought forward in swimming. The color is 

 brown above and ashy beneath. Muskrats are nocturnal in 

 their habits ; but are frequently seen swimming and feeding 

 in the day time. They are excellent swimmers, and can go 

 from ten to fifteen rods under water withovit breathing. Their 

 natural food is grass and roots ; but they will eat clams, mus- 

 sels, flesh, corn, oats, wheat, apples, and many other vegeta- 

 bles. In open winters they sometimes find their way into 

 farmers' cellars through drains, and make free with whatever 

 they find in store. They thrive best in sluggish streams or 

 ponds bordered with grass and flags. The roots of these 

 plants are their chief support, and from the tops they con- 

 struct their abodes. These structures are dome- shaped, and 



