106 The Mush-at. 



stock of patience and perseverance ; lie must not niind cold hands, 

 wet feet, or an acliing back, for, although these are drawbacks, yet 

 is the pursuit quite exciting when successful, audit will rewtirdthe 

 seeker, not merely of Lepidoptera^ but also of all the other orders 

 of insects." The best months for digging are September, Octo- 

 ber and November, if the weather permits.* 



The generic name of each species determined, is written on a 

 piece of paper fixed to the bottom of the same pin which suppoi ts 

 the insect, and if possible procure both sexes, and pi tce them side 

 by side in the cabinet. 



When the entomologist goes on an excursion, he should carry 

 a blank book in his pocket, to note observations on the habits of 

 in.sects. When thus he examines and observes for himself, he feels 

 a greater ownership in the knowledge so obtained, than he would 

 feel in any information derived from learning a pa-^sage in a book 

 by heart. " A person may learn a great deal from books, and 

 yet, from a want of observation, may be unable to read the pages 

 of the book of nature, daily spreads out before us, ever fresh and 

 ever interesting. Each time that the collector of insects catches 

 a species which is new to him, he receives a thrill of pleasure, for 

 he is adding a rarity to his collection." And these pleasures, it 

 will be observed, though of so high an order, are positively within 

 the reach of all ; it has been well said, " happiness is within our 

 reach if we will but take it," and such is entomology. 



ARTICLE Xll.—The Mushrat, {Fiber Zibethicus.) 

 GENUS FIBER.— Illiger. 



DENTAL FORMULA. 



Incisive | ; Molar |-5f = 16. 



" Lower incisors, sharp-pointed, and convex in front ; molars, 

 with flat crowns, furnished with scaly transvei'se zig-zag laminae. 

 Fore-feet with four toes and the rudiment of a thumb ; hind-feet, 



* I prefer the winter months to hunt for the cocoons of Bombyces, such 

 •.atidcasus luna, A. polyphemus, A.ceropia and p7-ovietheus ; they are more 

 readily detected on account of the trees at this season being without 

 foliage. 



