57 



HABITS OF THE MUSQUASH. 



them away to their subterranean storehouses. The maize they had procured by cutting 

 the stalks near the level of the ground. 



The Ondatra lives mostly in burrows, which it digs in the banks of the river in which 

 it finds its food, but sometimes takes up its abode in a different kind of habitation, 

 according to the locality and the soil. In the stiff clay banks of rivers the Ondatra 

 digs a rather complicated series of tunnels, some of them extending to a distance of 

 fifteen or twenty yards, and sloping upwards. There are generally three or four en- 

 trances, all of which open under water, and unite in a single chamber, where the Ondatra 

 makes its bed. The couch of the luxurious animal is composed of sedges, water-lily 

 leaves, and similar plants, and is so large as to fill a bushel basket. On marshy ground, 

 and especially if it be supplied by springs, the Ondatra builds little houses that 

 rise about three or four feet above the water, and look something like small 

 haycocks. 



As the fur of the Ondatra is rather valuable and the flesh is considered to be nearly 

 as good as that of the wild duck, it is rather persecuted by the human inhabitants of 

 the same land, as well as by the regular fur hunters. If these creatures have taken up 

 their abode in burrows, the hunters capture them by stopping up all the holes which they 

 can reach, and intercepting the animals as they try to escape ; but if the ground be 

 marshy, and they live in houses or " lodges," a different plan is adopted. Being armed 

 with a four-pronged barbed spear, the hunter creeps quietly towards one of the houses, 

 and with the full strength of his arm drives the barbed prongs completely through the 

 frail walls, transfixing one or more of the inhabitants. His companion, who is furnished 

 with an axe, immediately hurls down the remainder of the wall, and secures the un- 

 fortunate victims who are held down by the merciless steel. 



The habits of the Ondatra are very curious, and are admirably related by Messrs. 

 Audubon and Bachman, in the work to which allusion has already been made : 



" Musk Rats are very lively, playful animals when in their proper element, the water ; 

 and many of them may be occasionally seen disporting themselves on a calm night in 

 some mill-pond or deep sequestered pool, crossing and recrossing in every direction, 

 leaving long ripples in the water behind them, while others stand for a few moments on 

 little hurdles or tufts of grass, or on stones or logs, on which they can get a footing 

 above the water, or on the banks of the pond, and then plunge one after the other into 

 the water. At times one is seen lying perfectly still on the surface of the pond or stream, 

 with its body widely spread out, and as flat as can be. Suddenly it gives the water a 

 smart slap with its tail, somewhat in the manner of the beaver, and disappears beneath 

 the surface instantaneously, going down head foremost, and reminding one of the quick- 

 ness and ease with which some species of ducks and grebes dive when shot at. 



At the distance of ten or twenty yards, the Musk Rat comes to the surface again, 

 and perhaps joins its companions in their sports ; at the same time others are feeding 

 on the grassy banks, dragging off the roots of various kinds of plants, or digging un- 

 derneath the edge of the bank. These animals seem to form a little community of social, 

 playful creatures, who only require to be unmolested in order to be happy. 



Should you fire off a fowling-piece while the Musk Rats are thus occupied, a terrible 

 fright and dispersion ensues ; dozens dive at the flash of the gun, or disappear in their 

 holes ; and although in the daytime, when they see imperfectly, one may be shot while 

 swimming, it is exceedingly difficult to kill one at night. In order to ensure success, 

 the gunner must be concealed, so that the animal cannot see the flash, even when he 

 fires with a percussion lock." 



Traps are also largely employed for the destruction of this gentle but, unfortunately 

 for itself, valuable animal. The traps are so arranged, that when the creature is taken, 

 and struggles to get free, it jerks the trap into the water, and is thus drowned. If its 

 companions discover it while still entrapped, they behave in the manner of the brown 

 Rats, and tear their imprisoned companion to pieces. If one of these animals is shot, 

 and not immediately retrieved, the survivors surround the dead body of their companion, 

 and carry it off to their homes from the reach of its murderer. In character it is quiet 

 and gentle, and although armed with such powerful teeth, makes no offensive use of 

 them, even when handled by man for the first time,, 



