344 



THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. 



Zbc Dolea. 



SIXTH FAMILY: Arvicolid*. 



The family of the Voles (Art'icolida) comprises a 

 considerable number of small Rodents, very similar 

 to each other and showing an affinity to the Mice 

 in many respects, for which reason they were for- 

 merly counted to be a sub-family of them. Exter- 

 nally they differ chiefly in their clumsy shape, thick 

 head, ears which are entirely hidden in the fur or 

 protrude to a very slight extent, and a short tail 

 which attains a length equal at the most to two- 

 thirds of the length of the body. 



The Arvicolidae inhabit the north of the Old and 

 New Worlds. They frequent plains and mountains, 

 cultivated and rather thinly populated regions, fields, 

 meadows, gardens, banks of rivers, lakes and ponds, 

 and live in holes and burrows dug by themselves. 

 Nearly all shun the proximity of Man and but few 

 occasionally enter stables, barns or even gardens. 

 Their burrows usually consist of single or branching 

 tunnels of varying lengths, which often differ from 

 those of others of their genus by reason of their 

 great shallowness; some of them build dome-shaped 

 habitations or other more or less intricately and art- 

 fully constructed residences. The majority of the 

 family live singly or in couples; occasionally, how- 

 ever, they herd together in considerable numbers. 

 They take their food mostly from the vegetable 

 kingdom but do not disdain animal substances. 

 Many lay up winter provisions, though they do not 

 hibernate. In nearly all other respects they are 

 similar to the true Mice. 

 Habits and Pecul- Their habits are nearly identical 



iarities of the with those of the Mice; their move- 

 Vole8. ments are comparatively quick, 



though not as nimble and agile as those of the true 

 Mice. Few species can climb, but nearly all swim 

 in a masterly way; some live entirely in the water, 

 others at least for months in the snow, where they 

 excavate long tunnels and build -complicated nests. 

 Some species undertake long migrations, probably 

 impelled by scarcity of food, and it is owing to these 

 migrations that several species, which formerly were 

 confined to Asia, have become implanted in Europe. 

 Among their perceptive senses those of smell and 

 sight rank first. Their intellectual capacities are 

 slight. All the species are very prolific, the fecund- 

 ity of some being well-nigh incredible. Nearly all 

 species are very harmful to Man and have no good 

 qualities compensating for their vices, and are there- 

 fore rightly detested and pursued to extermination 

 in every possible manner. 



THE MUSKRAT. 



The Muskrat, Musquash or Ondatra (Fiber zibethi- 

 cus) is the only useful species of the family. One 

 may term it a large Water-vole with a long tail, 

 broad hind paws, a blunt snout and short, hair-cov- 

 ered ears which may be closed to exclude water. 

 The tail is rounded only near the base, being near 

 the extremity vertically compressed; the tip is two- 

 edged and scaly. The fur is close, smooth, soft and 

 lustrous, the woolly under fur being extremely deli- 

 cate, fine and short; the outer coat has a strong lus- 

 tre and is double the length of the former. The 

 upper surface is either of a brown, or of a yellow- 

 ish hue; the under surface is gray, with an occasional 

 reddish glint; the tail is black. Adult males attain 

 a total length of twenty-three inches, the tail occupy- 

 ing about half of this. 



Range and Habi- The Muskrat inhabits that part of 

 tationsofthe North America which is included 

 Muskrat between the thirtieth and sixtieth 

 parallels of north latitude. It is most numerous in 

 Alaska and Canada which are so rich in lakes and 

 rivers. This animal yields a fur which is of consid- 

 erable use and value. Its favorite haunts are grassy 

 banks of large lakes or wide, slowly flowing streams, 

 quiet rivers and swamps, but it delights most in 

 rather large ponds, grown with reeds and aquatic 

 plants; and there it erects a permanent habitation 

 and dwells either in small colonies or in communi- 

 ties of considerable numbers which form tolerably 

 stable settlements. Its mode of life is in many 

 respects similar to that of the Beaver; for this reason 

 the Indians call the two animals brothers and affirm 

 that the Beaver is the older and more intelligent 

 one, while the Muskrat is the younger and more 

 stupid one. The burrows of the Muskrat are like 

 those of the Beaver, consisting of either plain un- 

 derground chambers provided with several tunnels, 

 all terminating under water, or of strongholds or 

 "lodges" above ground. The latter predominate in 

 the north and are of a round and spherical or dome 

 shape; they stand on a heap of mud and rise above 

 the surface of the water. The walls are composed 

 of reeds, reed grass and sedge, cemented with mud; 

 some observers, however, assert that the whole hut 

 originally consisted only of mud and gradually 

 became covered with a thin layer of drifting grass 

 and sedge. The interior of the "lodge" contains a 

 single chamber from sixteen to twenty-four inches 

 in diameter. A tunnel which opens beneath the 

 water leads to it. Other tunnels, without any open- 

 ing, run from it for some distance under the ground, 

 being more or less prolonged according to circum- 

 stances, their only use being for storage of the roots 

 of aquatic plants. In winter the Ondatra lines its 

 chambers softly with water lilies, leaves, grasses and 

 reeds and provides for ventilation by loosely cover- 

 ing the centre of the dome-shaped roof with plants, 

 which admit a sufficient quantity of fresh air and let 

 the vitiated air out. As long as the pond or swamp 

 does not freeze to the very bottom it leads a highly 

 comfortable existence in its warm habitation which 

 is additionally protected by a covering of snow. 

 The Food of The food consists almost wholly of 

 the Musk- aquatic plants, though the empty 

 rat - shells of bivalves have been found 



in some of their lodges. Audubon saw captive 

 Muskrats which were very fond of Mussels. The 

 species are very lively, playful creatures when in the 

 water, which is their proper element. Sometimes 

 on a calm night many of them may be seen in a mill 

 pond or some other deep, sequestered pool, dis- 

 porting themselves, crossing and recrossing in every 

 direction, leaving long, glittering ripples in their 

 wake as they swim, while others stand for a few 

 moments on little tufts of grass, or on stones or 

 logs, from which they can reach their food floating 

 on the water; others sit on the banks of the pond, 

 and then plunge one after the other into the water 

 like Frogs. Should a fowling piece be fired while 

 the Muskrats are thus occupied, a terrible fright and 

 quick dispersion ensues; dozens dive at the flash or 

 disappear in their holes with frantic haste. 

 The Progeny of About the reproduction ofthe Musk- 

 the Musk- rat but little is known. From three 

 rat - to six young are born in the burrow 



or in a hole. If they are caught young, they are 

 easily tamed, this species being distinguished by a 



