AMONG THE MUSKRAT LODGES 



minutes their lungs must have a new 

 supply of oxygen, and if let alone they 

 are able to get it in a rather curious 

 fashion. Coming up beneath the ice, they 

 expel the vitiated air, making a bubble 

 which in a short time absorbs new oxy- 

 gen from the ice and water; then they 

 re-breathe it and go on. 



In the early autumn when the ice is 

 thin and clear you may capture Mussas- 

 cus by first driving him from his lodge, 

 then following him as he swims, a sil- 

 very streak beneath the ice, till he makes 

 that telltale bubble. Then go up and hit 

 the ice sharply over the bubble and you 

 drive the little fellow away from his own 

 breath and drown him. But you would 

 be unable to play any such mean trick as 

 this along the Ponkapoag bog edge now, 

 for the muskrats are abundantly provided 

 for, and I believe they did it themselves. 

 225 



