108 MUSK-RAT, 



tion, and almost impossible to ascertain their number, without extracting 

 them one by one. 



The descriptions and figures of their dental arrangement, by Baron 

 CuviER, and F. Cuvier are correct : see Ondatras, dents des mammiferes, 

 pi. 53, p. 157, and Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles, t. 5, p. 1. 



Illiger's generic name. Fiber, is derived from the Latin word. Fiber, a 

 beaver. There is only one species described as belonging to this genus. 



FIBER ZIBET HI CUS^LiNK, 



Musk-Rat. — MusauASH. 



PLATE XIII. — Old, akd Young. — Natural size. 



F. supra, rufo-fuscus ; subtus cinereus ; Leporem sylvaticum magni- 

 tudine sub aequans. 



CHASACTEES. 



General colour, reddish-broum above, cinereous beneath ; about the size of 

 ilte American gray rabbit. 



STtfONTMES. 



MnssASCDs, Smith's Virginia, 1626. (Pinkerton's Collection of Voyages and Travels, 



vol. xiii., p. 31.) 

 Rat Mns<jUE, Sagard Theodat, Canada, p. 771. 

 Castor Zibethichs, Linn. Syst. Nat., xii. ed., vol. 1, p. 79. 

 L'Ondatba, Baffon, Tom 10, p. 1. 

 Mi'SKBAT, Lawson, Carolina, p. 120. 

 Musk Beaver, Peimant, Arc. Zoo]., vol. i., p. 106. 

 Musquash, Hearne, Journey, p. 379. 

 Mu» ZiBETHicus, Linn., Gmel., vol. i.,p. 135. 

 Fiber Zibethicus, Sabine, Franklin's Journey, p. 65^. 

 Musk Rat, Godman's Nat. Hist., p. 58. 

 Okdatera, Huron Indians. 

 Musquash, Watsuss, or Wacbusk ; the animal that sits on the ice in a round form. 



Cree Indians, (Richardson.) 



DESCRiFnoir. 



Body, of a nearly cylindrical shape, resembling that of the Norway 

 rat. Head, short ; neck, very short, and indistinct ; legs, short ; thighs, 



