THE MUSK EAT — THE FOX. 33 



its subterranean fastnesses. While basking in the warm rays, it 

 generally sits erect, facing the sun, so as to receive every ray. 



Our last example of the Shrews is the remarkable animal which 

 is popularly called the Musk Eat {Afyogalea moschala), though it 

 is an insectivorous animal, and far removed from the rodents. 

 The river Wolga is the favorite resort of this curious quadruped, 

 which seems to hate dry land as much as the beaver, and to spend 

 the greater part of its time in the water.' The Musk Eat is an 

 admirable burrower, making its tunnels of considerable length,"' 

 some of them extending to a distance of twenty feet. There is 

 only one entrance, which is always below the water; and the bur- 

 row rises gradually upward, so that at the extremity the animal 

 is lodged on dry ground. It is instinctively careful to avoid too 

 close a proximity to the surface of the earth, lest the roof of its 

 home might fall, and disclose the interior to the unwelcome light. 



The odor which has already been mentioned as belonging to 

 all the members of this family, is in the Musk Eat so powerful as 

 to raise the animal into an article of commerce, the musky scent 

 being nearly as powerful as that produced by the musk deer, and 

 the perfume obtained at a much cheaper rate. The well-known 

 Musk Eat of India belongs also to this odoriferous family. 



The Fox is a well-known burrower, its " earth" being familiar 

 to many by sight, and to all by name. 



Few persons, who do not know the history of the Fox, would 

 believe it to be capable of forming excavations of such extent. 

 The fore feet of the mole are clearly formed for digging, their 

 sharp claws penetrating the earth, their broad palms acting as 

 shovels, and their powerful muscles giving the needful force. 

 These limbs are essentially used for digging, and are but little 

 employed as means of locomotion. But the Fox is an admirable 

 runner, as any hunter can avouch, and its fore limbs are formed 

 for speed and endurance, their length enduing them with the one 

 quality, and their muscular lightness with the other. Yet, just as 

 the digging limbs of the mole are used for locomotion, and enable 

 the animal to proceed at no contemptible speed, so the running 

 limbs of the Fox are used for digging, and enable the creature to 

 excavate burrows of no contemptible dimensions. 



The Arctic Fox (Vufyes lagopus), an animal which dwells in 

 the polar regions, is notable for the extent and structure of the 

 burrow. In order to shield itself from the inclemency of the 



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