228 Firetp Musrum or Naturat History — ZooLocy, Vor. XT. 
Wisconsin. It is a semi-aquatic animal, spending the greater part of 
its time in the water. Although largely nocturnal in its habits, it is 
often to be seen in the daytime either swimming about or sunning 
itself on a log or along the shore. Like the Beaver it constructs a house 
for itself for winter use, although it not uncommonly uses a hole which 
it digs in a bank, often doing considerable damage to dams and canal 
banks in localities where they are numerous. Brayton says, ‘Along 
the line of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, the ‘canal walkers’ are com- 
pelled to keep a sharp eye to the Muskrats, lest they burrow through 
the bank, and trappers, with their boats, are passed through the locks 
and given the right of way along the tow-path.” (J. c., p. 153.) 
Of the many muskrat houses which I have examined a description 
of one will suffice. It was built in a marsh on the edge of a shallow 
pond; and it was constructed of reeds, weed stalks and sticks mixed 
with mud and was somewhat oblong in shape, although from a dis- 
tance it appeared to be nearly round. The top of the rounded dome 
was three feet high measured from the surface of the swamp and slight- 
ly over four feet where built up from the side under water. The great- 
toe 
A Muskrat House. 
