126 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 



made a dash into the edge of the stream to secure a victim, but 

 disturbed perhaps by our sudden approach through an opening 

 among the trees, Mr. Falco was foiled in his aim and darted away in 

 very evident chagrin at his luckless fiasco. 



The grace and ease of the musk-rat's underwater movements 

 are admirable ! Even in April when the waters are cold from the 

 recently melted ice of winter, we have noticed them rapidly progress- 

 ing along the bottom of streams containing one or two feet depth of 

 water, and occasionally stopping in their course to take a nibble at 

 the submerged succulent roots of the plants mentioned above. Their 

 semi-webbed feet and scaly-vertically flattened tail and their coat of 

 dense moisture-resisting fur, enables them to find evident enjoyment 

 in the plane of life in which Providence has placed them. 



The musk-rat is believed to produce young but once a year, 

 and as many as eight have been known to have been given birth to 

 at one litter. The female frequently has a habit of going away from 

 the family rendezvous just before the time of parturition, and making 

 a new nest near by under a big heap of logs or in a rocky hollow, 

 to give birth to her progeny in as much seclusion as is attainable. 

 This instinct of sequestration is supposed to give security against the 

 non-too-affectionately inclined propensities of the old males of the 

 species towards the younger fry, whom they with farsighted malignity 

 seem to regard as embryo rivals and competitors. 



A number of instances are on record in this vicinity where 

 about the beginning of May the female pregnant musk-rat has been 

 met with, in the hour of darkness, on such a quest ; and they are 

 very irritable and pugnacious at such a juncture, and bravely attack 

 large quadrupeds, such as colts or young bovines that happen to 

 cross their path, when on this errand of concealment intent. 



Like the spaniel dog, the musk-rat on leaving the watery element 

 after a swimming or diving excursion is prone to give itself a thorough 

 and vigorous shaking, and can then enter its cosy resting place in 

 warmth and comfort. 



RAPTORES. 



As in several previous years large hawks have been seen dur- 

 ing the month of December just passed. On last Christmas day 

 (the weather being mild) my son, who, with his small terrier dog, 



