MUSK-RAT. 115 



houses from two to four feet above the water ; the entrance being always 

 from below. We have frequently opened these nests, and found in the 

 centre a dry comfortable bed of grass, sufficiently large to accommodate 

 several of them. When the ponds arc frozen over, and a slight fall of 

 snow covers the ground, these eiUfices resemble small hay-cocks. There 

 is another peculiarity that, it appears to us, imlicates a greater degree of 

 iuteUigence in the Musk-Rat than we arc usually disposed to award to it. 

 The animal seems to know that the ice will cover the pond in winter, and 

 that if it has no places to which it can resort to breathe, it will be suffo- 

 cated. Hence you here and there see what are called breathing places. 

 These are covered over with mud on the sides, -with some loose grass in 

 the centre to preserve them from being too easily frozen over. We have 

 occasionally seen these winter-huts of the Musk-Rat, in the vicinity of 

 their snug siunmer retreats in some neighbom-ing river's bank, and have 

 sometimes been half inclined to suppose, that for some cause or other, 

 they gave a preference to this Idnd of residence. We are not, however, 

 aware, that these nests are made use of by the Musk-Rat in spring, for 

 the purpose of rearing its j'oung. We believe these animals always for 

 that purpose resort to holes in the sides of ponds, sluggish streams, 

 or dykes. 



In.such situations we have frequently observed the j^oung, which when 

 they first make their appearance, arc seen emerging from a side gallery 

 leading to the surface, so that they arc not of necessity obliged to " take 

 a dive " until they have had a little acquaintance with the liquid ele- 

 ment. They are at this time very gentle, and M'e have on several occa- 

 sions taken them up -with the hand, without their making any violent 

 struggles to escape, or attempts to punish us with their teeth. 



The fur of this species was formerly a valuable article of commerce, and 

 is still in some demand. Rut since so many new inventions are supply- 

 ing the public with cheap hats, and the Nutria skin has been extensively 

 introduced from South America, the Musk-Rat is less sought after, and in 

 some of our most thickly populated districts has gi'eatly increased in 

 numbers. The country-people, however, continue to destroy it, to pre- 

 vent its becoming so numerous as to cause loss, by making holes in the 

 mill-dams, embankments, or ditches, that happen to be inhabited by it, and 

 allowing the water to flow through, when frequently much mischief re- 

 sults. The Musk-Rat has little of the cunning of the fox, the beaver, or 

 even the common Norway rat, and may be easily taken in almost any kind 

 of trap, and although it is very prolific, it might by proper attention be so 

 thinned off in a single year as to cease to be a nuisance. A dozen com- 

 mon rat-traps carefully and judiciously attended to, would go far toward 



