THE MUSQUASH, OR MUSK RAT. 



467 



them, they pick it up in their fore-paws, shake it violently, in order to get rid of the earth 

 that clings to the roots, and then, carrying it to the water-side, wash it with a rapid dexterity 

 that might be envied by a professional laundress. 



While swimming it looks very like a magnified water vole, and is remarkably quick and 

 agile in its movements ; but its gait on land is clumsy and awkward. It seems to be equally 

 at home in salt or fresh water, inhabiting the banks of rivers or the shores of the sea creeks, 

 according to the locality in which it is found, and living in burrows which it excavates along 

 the banks. 



"•-?¥ 



COYPU RAT, OK EACOONDA — Myopolamus coypu. 



It is said to be a tolerably powerful animal, and to make no despicable resistance to the 

 dogs which are employed in its chase. It is, however, naturally of a gentle disposition, and 

 can be rendered very tame by those who bestow proper attention upon it. 



The Ondatra, Musquash, or Musk Rat, is a native of Northern America, where it is 

 found in various places above the twentieth degree of north latitude. 



The color of this animal is a dark brown on the upper portions of its body, tinged with a 

 reddish hue upon its neck, ribs, and legs, the abdomen being ashy gray ; the tail is of the 

 same dark hue as the body. In total length it rather exceeds two feet, of which measurement 

 the tail occupies about ten inches. The incisor teeth are bright yellow, and the nails are 

 white. The whole coloring of the animal is so wonderfully like the hue of the muddy banks 

 on which it resides, that a practised naturalist has often mistaken the Ondatras for mere 

 lumps of mud until they began to move, and so dispelled the illusion. The hinder feet of 

 the Ondatra are well webbed, and their imprint on the soft mud is very like that of a common 

 duck. 



The food of the Ondatra in a wild state appears to be almost wholly of a vegetable nature ; 

 although, when confined in a cage, one of these animals has been seen to eat muscles and 

 oysters, cutting open the softest shells, and extracting the inmates, and waiting for the hard- 

 shelled specimens until they either opened of their own accord or died. Although the Ondatra 

 is a clumsy walker, it will sometimes travel to some distance from the water-side, and has 

 been noticed on a spot nearly three-quarters of a mile from any water. These animals 

 have also been detected in ravaging a garden, which they had plundered of turnips, parsnips, 

 carrots, maize, and other vegetables. The mischievous creatures had burrowed beneath them, 



