PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE MAMMALS OF NEW YORK 327 
the animal is probably a mere straggler. Mr Savage has not yet found 
the pine mouse in Erie co., where however it doubtless occurs. Mr 
Helme writes that it is abundant in the dry upland fields and woods of 
Long Island. 
Fiber zibethicus (Linnaeus) J/uskrat 
1766 Castor zibethicus Linnaeus, Systema naturae. ed. 12. 1:79. 
1817 Liber zibethicus Cuvier, Regne animal. 1: 192. 
1842 Fiber zibethicus De Kay, Zoology of New York, Mammalia. 
P. 75. | 
1884 Liber zibethicus Merriam, Linn. soc. New York. Trans. 2: 177. 
1896 Liber zibethicus Fisher, The Observer. May 1896. 7: 108. 
1898 Fiber ztbethicus Mearns, Am. mus. nat. hist. Bul. 9g Sep. 1898. 
HOS RAM, 
1898 Fiber zibethicus Mearns, U.S. Nat. mus. Proc. 21: 348. 
Type locality. astern Canada. 
_ Faunal position. As the muskrat is essentially an aquatic animal its 
distribution is not limited by the same climatic conditions that govern 
the ranges of most mammals. It is therefore at present impossible to 
assign the animal any definite faunal position. The difficulty is increased 
by the fact that little is known of the geographie variations to which the 
species may be subject. Muskrats range through all the life zones from 
Hudsonian to lower austral inclusive. 
ffabitat.* Marshes. and the borders of lakes, ponds and sluggish 
streams. 
Distribution in New York. There are probably very few square miles 
of the state in which the muskrat does not now occur. This is probably 
one of the few mammals whose range has not been sensibly increased or 
diminished by the clearing and settling of the state. 
Principal records. De Kay: “ The geographic range of the musquash 
is very extensive, being found from 30° to 69° north latitude” (’42, 
p. 76). Merriam: ‘‘ Colonies of muskrats may be found at suitable ponds, 
swamps and sluggish streams in all parts of the Adirondacks” (84d 
p-177). Fisher: ““Common [near Sing Sing] in the salt meadows, tide 
creeks and all the streams and ponds” (’96, p. 198). Mearns: ‘“ The 
muskrat is abundant at Kaaterskill lake. It is also said to occur along 
Schoharie creek, but we saw no signs of it there” (’98, p. 348). 
I have found the muskrat common at Geneva, Ontario co. Peterboro, 
Madison co. and Elizabethtown, Essex co. Mr Savage writes, “The 
muskrat is abundant locally [in Erie co.|. During a recent flood in 
