326 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



from the surrounding soil. It is seen to the best advantage in 

 the water, where it swims and dives with consummate ease, aided 

 greatly by the webs which connect the hinder toes. 



The Musquash drives a large series of tunnels into the bank, 

 excavated in various directions, and having several entrances, all 

 of which open under the surface of the water. The tunnels are 

 of considerable length, some being as much as fifty or sixty feet 

 in length, and they all slope slightly upward, uniting in a single 

 chamber, in which is the couch of the inhabitants. If the animal 

 happens to live upon a marshy and uniformly wet soil, it becomes 

 a builder, and erects houses so large that they look like small 

 haycocks. Sometimes these houses are from three to four feet in 

 height. 



The natives take advantage of the habits of the animal, and 

 kill it while it lies on its couch, much after the same manner as is 

 used by the natives of Australia when they pass the house of the 

 Bettong. Taking in his hand a large four-barbed spear, shaped 

 something like the well-known " grains" with which sailors kill 

 dolphins and porpoises, the native steals up to the house, and, 

 driving his formidable weapon through the walls, is sure to trans- 

 fix the inhabitants. Holding the spear firmly with one hand, 

 with the other he takes his tomahawk from his belt, dashes the 

 house to pieces, and secures the unfortunate animals. 



As the fur of the Musquash is valuable, and the flesh is con- 

 sidered as good as that of the duck, it is greatly persecuted by 

 hunters, who generally employ one of four methods, two of which 

 require a knowledge of the home. One plan has already been 

 described, and another consists in finding out the different en- 

 trances, blocking them up, and then intercepting the animals as 

 they try to escape. Sometimes the gun is used, but not very fre- 

 quently, as the Musquash is so wary that it dives at the least 

 alarm, darts into one of its holes, and will not show itself again 

 until assured of safety. The trap, however, is the ordinary means 

 of destruction. This is made of iron, and is set in such a manner 

 that as soon as the animal is caught its struggles cause the trap 

 to fall into the water, dragging after it the Musquash, which is 

 soon drowned. 



In its subterranean home the Musquash lays up large stores 

 of provisions, and in the habitation have been found turnips, 

 parsnips, carrots, and even maize. All the roots had been dug 

 out of the soil, and the maize had been bitten off close to the 



