HYBERNATION. 117 



As another example of this mode of hyber- 

 nation we may adduce the musquash, or musk- 

 rat, {Ondatra zibethica,) so called from its musky 

 and rather fragrant odour. This animal in- 

 habits the higher latitudes of North America ; 

 small grassy lakes or swamps, or the grassy 

 borders of slow streams are its favourite haunts. 

 Vegetable matters are its principal food, as 

 roots, tender shoots, the leaves of various 

 carices, etc., to which it adds fresh-water mus- 

 sels. Like the beaver, it is semi-aquatic, 

 swimming and diving with the greatest facility. 

 Like the beaver, too, it builds winter habita- 

 tions, but of far less solidity and durability 

 than those of the former. Its fur is an object 

 of commerce, hence thousands are annually 

 slaughtered by the hunter. Between four and 

 five hundred thousand skins are annually im- 

 ported into Great Britain. Dr. Richardson 

 thus describes the house of the musquash : — 

 " In the autumn, before the shallow lakes and 

 swamps freeze over, the musquash builds its 

 house of mud, giving it a conical form, and a 

 sufficient base to raise the chamber above 

 water. The chosen spot is generally amongst 

 long grass, which is incorporated 'with the 

 Avails of the house from the mud being deposited 

 amongst it ; but the animal does not appear to 

 make any kind of composition or mortar by 

 tempering the mud and grass together. There 

 is, however, a dry bed of grass deposited in 

 the chamber. The entrance is under water. 

 When the ice forms over the surface of the 



