AMONG THE MUSKRAT LODGES 



neath the surface each holds an earful of 

 air that catches under-water sounds and 

 transmits them as faithfully as it does the 

 sounds of the upper world. He swims 

 by vigorous " dog-paddle " motions of 

 his hind feet, which are large and fur- 

 nished with stiff, coarse hair that answers 

 for a webbing between the toes. More- 

 over, these feet are " hung-in " a little in 

 a peculiar club-footed way that makes his 

 gait on land an awkward shamble, but 

 which allows them to " feather " as an 

 oar does in swimming, thus giving his 

 propulsive apparatus the greatest possible 

 efficiency. 



People who know Mussascus best differ 

 about the use of his tail. I have never 

 seen him use it except as a very efficient 

 steering oar, but I have been told that he 

 sculls with it as a fish does with his, and 

 thus helps his progress. It is admirably 

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