The Muskrat. Ill 



tapering to an acute point at the extremity ; covered witb small 

 fccales, which are visible through the thinly scattered hairs. 

 Incisors, large; upper ones a little roimded anteriorly without 

 grooves, truncated on the cutting edge; lower ones, a little the 

 longest; nose, thick, and obtuse; whiskers, moderate in length, 

 seldom reaching beyond the ear ; eyes, small and lateral, nearly 

 concealed in the fur ; ears, short, oblong, covered with hair, and 

 hidden by the fur. 



" On the fore-legs, the wrists and fingers only are visible beyond 

 the body, they are covered with a short shining coat of hair. 



" The thumb has a conspicuous palm, and is armed with a nail, 

 as long as the adjoining finger nails. Hind-legs, as short as the 

 fore-legs, so that the body when the animal is walking touches 

 the ground. 



" The hind-feet are turned obliquely inwards, and at first sight 

 remind us of the foot of a duck. The two middle toes may be 

 called semi-palm ated, and there is also a short web between the 

 third and fourth toes. The margins of the soles and toes, are 

 furnished with an even row of rigid hairs, curving inwards; 

 under-surface of feet, naked; claws, conical, and slightly arched. 



" The whole body is clothed with a short, downy, fur, inter- 

 mixed with longer and coarser hairs. In many particulars the 

 skin resembles that of the beaver, although the fur is far less 

 compact downy and lustrous. 



COLOUR. 



" Fur, on the upper parts a third longer than beneath ; from 

 the roots to near the extremities, blueish-gray, or lead-colour, 

 tipped with brown ; on the under surface it is a little lighter in 

 colour, and the hairs are tipped with brownish-gray. This species, 

 when viewed from above, appears of a general dark-brown colour 

 with a reddish tint visible on the neck, sides, and legs ; chin, throat, 

 and under-surface, grayish-ash ; tail, dark-brown. Incisors, yellow; 

 nails, white. The colour of this animal, so much resembles that 

 of the muddy banks on which it is frequently seated, thatwe have 

 often, when looking at one from a little distance, mistaken it for 

 a lump or clod of earth, until it moved. 



DIMENSIONS. 



" Length of head and body, 15 inches. 



oftail, 10 



From heel to longest nail, 3 " 



Height of ear, 2" " 



Auduhonand Bachman, Vol. l,p. 108." 



