Photo by George Shiras, 3rd 

 FLASHLIGHT OF A MUSKRAT BUILDING ITS WINTe:r HOME: IN THt MARSH (Stt 



PAGi: 782) 



after dusk. Sometimes the canoe would 

 not get away more than 50 feet before 

 the explosion came, showing that the ex- 

 pectant animals were watching near by. 

 After taking many pictures, the camera 

 and flash were set out for rabbits in a 

 little swamp near the stream, and I won- 

 dered what the muskrats would think of 

 this change. 



DID THIS MUSKRAT Ex\T HIMSELF TO 

 DEATH ? 



But I was not left long in doubt, for 

 in a few days a particularly large musk- 



rat was seen leaving the stream, and in 

 the bright sunlight it waddled up the 

 trail toward the carrot patch, where he 

 proceeded to pull up a carrot, and re- 

 turned to the water. Considering this a 

 good opportunity for a daylight picture, 

 I went to the cabin for the camera, and, 

 returning, seated myself within a few 

 yards of the trail, with a carrot placed 

 temptingly in the way. After waiting, 

 and when no animal appeared, I exam- 

 ined the carrot patch and found that he 

 had come while I was after the camera. 

 The guide thereupon got a broom for 



783 



