The MusTcraU 109 



amongst it ; but the animal does not appear to make any kind of 

 composition or mortar by tempering the mud and grass together. 

 There is, however, a dry bed of grass deposited in the chamber^ 

 The entrance is under water. When ice forms over the surface 

 of the swamp, the muskrat makes breathing holes through it, and 

 protects them from the frost by a covering of mud. In severe 

 winters, however, these holes freeze up in spite of their coverings 

 and many of the animals die. It is to be remarked that the 

 small grassy lakes selected by the mnskrat for its residence, are 

 never so firmly frozen nor covered with such thick ice as deeper 

 and clearer water. The Indians kill these animals by spearing 

 them through the walls of their houses, making their approach 

 with great caution, for the muskrats take to the water when 

 alarmed by the sound on the ice. An experienced hunter is so 

 well acquainted with the direction of the chamber and the position. 

 in which its inmates lie, that he can transfix four or five at a time^ 

 As soon as from the motion of the spear it is evident that the ani- 

 mal is struck, the house is broken down and it is taken out. The 

 principal seasons for taking the musk-rat, are the autumn before 

 the snow falls, and the spring after it has disappeared, but the ice 

 is still entire. In the winter time the depth of snow prevents the 

 houses and breathing holes from being seen. One of the first 

 operations of the hunter is to stop all the holes with the excep_ 

 tion of one at which he stations himself to spear the animals that 

 have escaped being struck in their houses and come hither to 

 breathe. In the summer the muskrat burrows in the banks of the 

 lakes, making branched canals many yards in extent, and forming 

 its nest in a chamber at the extremity, in which the young are 

 brought forth. When its house is attacked in the autumn it re_ 

 treats to these passages, but in the spring they are frozen up. 

 The muskrat is a watchful but not a very shy animal. It Avill 

 come very near to a boat or canoe, but dives instantly on per- 

 ceiving the flash of a gun. It may be frequently seen sitting on 

 the shores of small marshy islands in a rounded form, and not 

 easily to be distinguished from a piece of earth, until, on the ap- 

 proach of danger it suddenly plunges into the water. In the act 

 of diving, when, surprised, it gives a smart blow to the water with 

 its tail." 



Sir John says that in the north there are three varieties : 



1. The Black Musquash, rare. 



