THE MUSQUASH. 117 



the SNOW MOUSE (Arvicola nivalis), lives on the Alps and Pyrenees, at elevations of 4,000 feet and 

 upwards, being most abundant about the limit of perpetual snow, where it not only resides during 

 the short period of summer, when some portion of the surface is freed from its snowy covering, 

 but actually throughout the winter, buried under the snow, through which it makes its way in search 

 of the roots of plants. The ROOT VOLE (Arvicola ceconomus) is a large and abundant Siberian 

 species, the range of which extends from the Obi to Kamstchatka. This and some other northern 

 species often migrate in great bodies, after the fashion to which we shall have to refer when speaking 

 of the Lemmings. 



In North America, it would appear from Dr. Coues' monograph, there are about a dozen distinct 

 species of Yoles. One of them, confined to the northern parts of the Continent, he identifies with 

 the Arvicola rutilus of the Old World, which he regards as a circumpolar species. South of a line 

 running from sea to sea, a little north of the boundary of the United States, comes another 

 form, A. Gapperi, which is regarded as a sub-species of A. rutilus, to which A. glareolus 

 (see p. 116) is considered to stand in a similar relation. The most abundant North American 

 species is the MEADOW MOUSE (A. riparius), which is distributed, apparently, over the greater part of 

 the Continent, and takes the place of the Field Vole. On the prairies there is a peculiar species (A. 

 austerns'), a sub-species of which (A . curtatus) is found in the Western territories as far as California ; 

 the PINE MOUSE (A. pinetorurn) inhabits the country east of the Mississippi ; and the genus is repre- 

 sented in Mexico by one species (A. quas later). The Voles are most numerous and abundai:.t in the. 

 northern and north-western parts of North America. 



Another American species is the MUSQUASH, MUSK-RAT, or ONDATRA (Fiber zibethicus)^ 

 which constitutes a genus distinguished from the true Voles by having the tail compressed and nearly 

 naked, the hinder toes united by short webs, and fringed with long hairs, and the enamel folds of the 

 molars united by a line running down the middle of the tooth. The form of the animal is thickset, 

 and in this respect, as in its aquatic habits, it resembles the Beaver, to which it was formerly supposed 

 to be nearly allied. The head is short and broad, the ears project very little beyond the fur, the hind 

 limbs are longer than the fore legs, and terminate in five toes with strong claws, while the fore limbs 

 have only four toes and a wart-like thumb ; the fur is very thick and shiny, and the colour is usually 

 brown above and grey below, with the tail, which is nearly as long as the body, black. The fur is 

 well known in commerce. The length of the head and body of a full-grown male is aboxit twelve 

 inches. The name Musk-rat, often given to this species, refers to the musky odour diffused by the 

 secretion of a large gland situated in the inguinal region. 



The Musquash, which may be described as a large Water Rat, inhabits all the suitable parts of 

 North America, from the thirteenth to the sixty-ninth degree of north latitude, and is most abundant 

 in the Canadian region, which offers it peculiarly favourable conditions of life in the multitude of 

 rivers and lakes, upon the banks of which the Musquash always takes up its abode. It is a nocturnal 

 animal, passing the day in concealment, and coming forth with the twilight to seek its nourishment, 

 and amuse itself with its fellows. In the water it displays wonderful activity, and, in many respects, 

 presents much resemblance to the Beaver. Curiously enough, the parallelism of habits holds good to a 

 certain extent, even in the construction of their dwellings. The Musquash generally lives in a burrow 

 dug out of the bank of the stream in which he disports himself, and consisting of a chamber with 

 numerous passages, all of which open under the surface of the water. But, under certain conditions, 

 especially in the north, he builds himself a house of a rounded or dome-like form, composed of sedges, 

 grasses, and similar materials, plastered together with mud, and supported upon a mound of mud 

 of sufficient height to raise it above the water. The house contains a single chamber from sixteen 

 inches to two feet in diameter, and is entered by a passage which opens at the bottom of the water. 

 Other passages are said to issue from this, and to lead down into the ground under the bottom of the 

 water ; these are made by the animal in his search for the roots of watei'-lilies and other aquatic plants, 

 which constitute a great part of his nourishment. The Musquash also seeks provisions on land, and 

 in this way often does much mischief in gardens. Fresh-water mussels also form a part of its diet. It 

 passes the winter in its house, which it then furnishes with a soft bed of leaves, grasses, and sedges, 

 and, according to Audubon, ventilates by covering the middle of the dome only with a layer of similar 

 materials, through which the air can pass. Of the propagation of the Musquash very little seems to 

 110 



