THE MUSK RAT. A27 



The front-teeth are wedge-shaped. There are 

 generally three grinders on each side, but sometimes 

 only two. All the species have clavicles, or collar- 

 bones, in the skeleton *. 



THE MUSK RAT-f*. 



This animal is about the size of a small Rabbet. 

 —Its head is thick and short, and somewhat resem- 

 bles that of the Water-rat. The eyes are large ; 

 the ears short, rounded, and covered both inside 

 and outside with hair. Its fur is soft, glossy, and 

 of a reddish-brown colour ; and beneath this is a 

 much finer fur, or thick down, which is very useful 

 in the manufacture of hats. The tail is flattened 

 lateral! y^ and covered with scales. 



Musk-rats are found in America, from Hudson's 

 Bay as far south as Carolina. — In the general form 

 of their body, as well as in many of their habits, they 

 bear a considerable resemblance to the Beaver. 

 They construct their habitation of dry plants, but 

 particularly of reeds, cement it with clay, and cover 

 it with a dome. At the bottom and sides of tJiis 

 there are several pipes, through which tliey pass in 

 search of food ; for they lay up no provisions for 

 winter. They have also subterraneous passages, in- 



• Linn. Gniel. i. \'2b. 

 t Synonyms. — :Mus Zibethicus. Linn. Gmcl. — Castor Zibctliioiis. 

 Jjitn. Ed.xii. — Ondatra, or Canadian Musk-rat. S/^i. Bufl'. — Mnsk- 



t/caver. Pan). — Musquash. Kerr. — Mcsk-rat. La Ilonluiu 



Shax^^'s Gtn.Zool.pl. V2d — Bcxv. iluad. oil. 



