230 MAMMALIA—MUSKRAT. 
longer. The downy hair is manufactured into hats, stockings, caps, and 
other articles. The skin is so considerable an article of traffic, that the 
species which produces it will, perhaps, at length be exterminated. At one 
sale, the Hudson’s Bay company sold about fifty-four thousand ; and, in 
1798, a hundred and six thousand were exported to Europe and China from 
Canada alone. In the year 1743, the imports of beaver skins into London 
and Rochelle, amounted to upwards of one hundred and fifty thousind; and 
there is reason to suppose that a considerable additional quantity was at 
that period introduced illicitly into Great Britain. In 1827, the importaticn 
of beaver skins into London for more than four times the extent of fur 
country than that which was occupied in 1743, did not much exceed fifty 
thousand. 
The senses of the beaver are very acute; and so delicate is its smell, that 
it will suffer no filth, no bad stench, to remain nearit. When kept too long 
in confinement, and under the necessity of voiding its excrement, it drops it 
near the threshold of its prison, and when the door is opened, is sure to 
push it out. 
THE ONDATRA, MUSQUASH, OR MUSKRAT.I 

Tuts animal is closely allied in form and habits to the beaver, and is 
found in the same parts of America as that animal, from thirty to sixty-nine 
or seventy degrees of latitude. But it is more familiar in its habits, as it is 
to be found only a short distance from large towns. The musquash is a 
watchful, but not a very shy animal. It may be frequently seen sit ing on 
the shores of small muddy islands, not easily to be distinguished from a 
piece of earth, till, on the approach of danger, it suddenly plunges into the 
water. It forms burrows on the banks of streams and ponds, the entrance 
to which is in deep water. These burrows extend to great distances, and 
do extensive injury to farms, by letting in the water upon the land. 

Fiber vibethicus, Desm. The genus Fiber has two upper and two lower incisors; 
six upper and six lower molars. Molars with a flat crown and scaly angular zigza 
plates of enamel; fore feet with four toes and the rudiment of a thumb; posterior wit 
five, edged with stiff and close bristles; tail long, compressed laterally, naked except a 
few scattered hairs, and granular. 
