THE ONDRATA. 349 



canoe. They may be frequently seen sitting on the shores of 

 small muddy islands in a rounded form, and not easily to be 

 distinguished from a piece of earth, until, on the approach of 

 danger, or the instant they perceive the flash of a gun, they 

 plunge into the water. In the act of diving they give a smart 

 blow on the water with the tail. 



The ondrata is chiefly an herbivorous animal. Charlevoix 

 says that in March, when it emerges from its winter quarters, 

 it feeds on bits of wood, which it peels previous to eating. 

 When the snows have dissolved it lives upon the roots of 

 the nettle, and afterwards on the stalks and leaves of that 

 plant. In summer it feeds on strawberries, &c., and in autumn 

 on other fruits. In the northern districts, the roots and shoots 

 of the bulrush and reed-mace, and the leaves of various Carices 

 and aquatic grasses, form their staple food. Pennant says, 

 they are partial to the sweet-flag (Acorus calamus), which was 

 considered by Linnaeus to be the only aromatic plant growing 

 in the northern regions, and, according to Dr. Richardson, does 

 not grow to the northward of Lake Winnipeg. They are also 

 said to feed on fresh-water mussels (Unio) ; and if famishing 

 in winter they attack and devour each other. 



On the approach of winter, these animals retire for the 

 season. They then lodge apart, Charlevoix says, in some hole 

 or in the hollow of a tree ; and he adds, that " they likewise 

 build cabins nearly in the form of those of the beavers, but 

 far from being so well executed, and always by the water side." 

 Dr. Richardson, also, says, " In the autumn, before the shallow 

 lakes and swamps freeze over, the ondrata builds its house of 

 mud, giving it a conical form, and a sufficient base to raise 

 the chamber above the water. The chosen spot is generally 

 amongst long grass, which is incorporated with the walls of 

 the house, from the mud being deposited amongst it -, but the 

 animal does not appear to make any kind of composition or 

 mortar by tempering the mud and grass together : there is, 

 however, a dry bed of grass deposited in the chamber. The 

 entrance is under water. When ice forms over the surface of 



