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HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



THE WATER RAT. 



(J\fus Amphibius, Linn. Le Rat d'eau^ Buff. 



Is much about the size of the Land Rat ; its head 

 and nose are thicker ; its eyes are small ; its ears 

 short, scarcely appearing through the hair ; its 

 teeth are large, strong, and yellow. In an old one 

 which we examined, the lower incisors measured 

 somewhat more than half an inch in length. The 

 hair on its head and body is thicker and longer 

 than that of the common Rat, and chiefly of a dark 

 brown colour, mixed with red ; the belly is grey ; 

 the tail five inches long, covered with short black 

 hairs, and the tip with white. 



The Water Rat generally frequents the sides of 

 rivers, ponds, and ditches, where it burrows, and 

 forms its nest. It feeds on frogs, small fish, and 

 spawn ; swims and dives remarkably fast ; and can 

 continue a long time under water. 



