108 The Muskrat. 



FIBER ZIBETHICUS.— Linn. 



THE MUSK-RAT. 



It appears that the first correct description of the muskrat was 

 prepared in 1725, by Monsieur Sarrasin, then king's physician at 

 Quebec, and who was a coi-respondent of the French Academy. 

 The animal had been previously most erroneously described by 

 several authors, but Sarrasin's account was founded upon perso- 

 nal observation, and the dissection of numerous specimens, and 

 furnished the materials which enabled Buffon to prepare a good 

 article upon the species. 



The muskrat inhabits every part of the United States north o^ 

 30"^ , and all British America to the Arctic seas ; it has been 

 found at the mouth of the Mackenzie River, in latitude 69^ , on 

 the Rocky Mountains, and on the Columbia, west of the chain. 

 It is thus so organized that it can subsist in the coldest as well as 

 in a climate bordering upon the tropical. Its habits are aquatic^ 

 spending the greater portion of its time when awake in the waters 

 and procuring its food principally, in that element. Although 

 occasionally seen in the day time, yet itisstrictly anocturnal animal, 

 and consequently, rather difficult to observe. Fresh water mollusea 

 roots of aquatic plants, and such tender grasses as may chance to 

 grow at the margin of the stream constitute the food of the musk- 

 rat. Along the banks of the Canadian ris'^ers there may be occa- 

 sionally seen great numbers of the shells of different species of 

 Unio that have been opened and devoured by these animals. In 

 one of the neighbouring Slates a gentleman who had a garden in 

 the vicinity of a small stream was surprised to find that every 

 night quantities of his turnips were carried away. Upon exami- 

 nation, the missing vegetables were traced to the muskrat houses 

 at a considerable distance. Upon opening several of these, tur- 

 nips, carrots, parsnips, and even ears of Indian corn were found in 

 plenty. The stalks of the latter are so tall that the ears are be- 

 yond the reach of the muskrat, but it was found that the animal, 

 in order to obtain them, cut the stems off just above the roots 

 with its sharp front teeth. Sir John Richardson states that : "In 

 the autumn before the shallow lakes and swamps freeze over, the 

 muskrat builds its house of mud, giving it a conical form, and a 

 sufficient base to raise the chamber above the waters. The cho. 

 sen spot is generally amongst the long grass, which is incorpo- 

 rated with the walls of the house, from the mud being deposited 



