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HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS 



THE MUSQUASH, MUSK BEAVER, OR 

 LITTLE BEAVER. 



Is about the size of a Rabbit, the head and nose 

 nearly resembling" those of the Beaver, with strong 

 white whiskers, and very large cutting teeth, of a 

 red colour; the eyes small, the ears also small, and 

 a good deal hidden in the fur. The hairs on the 

 body, which nearly hide the dark coloured fur 

 underneath them, are of a ferruginous brown. The 

 legs and toes black, the hinder ones larger and 

 stronger than the fore ones, with five toes, bare, 

 and webbed together; the fore legs are short, with 

 four toes unwebbed, and a very short one on the 

 inside of the foot. The tail is flattish, the upper 

 side covered with 'scales, and the under with coarse 

 hair. Pennant's description of the Musk Beaver 

 differs from this animal : He says the eyes are 

 large, toes on each foot separated, those behind 

 fringed on each side with strong hairs, closely set 

 together. The figure of Buffon's Musk Rat of 

 Canada, also differs greatly from this, but whether 



