306 UNDER THE OPEN SKY 



his taste, and piles of the shells of these 

 litter the bottom of the stream or the bank 

 near his home. 



THE HAND AND THE BRAIN 



The muskrat is not only cousin to the 

 beaver, but is not much more distantly re- 

 lated to the squirrel and the rabbit. Con- 

 sequently, besides having the family traits 

 of the hare-lip and sharp front teeth, he also 

 has the habit of sitting up on his hind legs 

 and holding his food in his front feet. This 

 posture is almost unknown in any other 

 group not provided with distinct hands. 

 Modern students of mind say that much 

 of the clearness of our thinking depends 

 on our facility in handling. They tell us 

 our ideas of size and form come primarily 

 from the sense of touch rather than from 

 sight. Perhaps much of the intelligence 

 of squirrels is due to their constant practice 

 in handling things. It would seem that in 

 this family the kind that sit up and handle 

 their food most are the brightest. But per- 

 haps this is putting it wrong end foremost. 



