THE MUSQUASH 



{Fiber zibethicus) 



The Rodents are far the most numerous order of beasts, comprising 

 nearly a quarter of the known species, and among this host of gnawers 

 more than a third belong to the family of Rats and Mice (Muridte), so 

 that this is the largest, and in some ways the most important, family 

 of quadrupeds. They are not, however, animals of much distinction, 

 so to speak, and few can boast of any name but "Rat" or "Mouse." 

 The present animal, the Musk-Rat of North America, is one of the 

 few exceptions, and is quite a notable creature in some ways. In size 

 it is large for a Rat, measuring a foot in length without the tail, 

 which member is naked, scaly looking, and flattened sideways — not 

 vertically as in the Beaver, which in many ways the Musquash resembles. 



The hind-feet are, however, not webbed fully like the Beaver's, but 

 only at the bases of the toes. The fur is like that of the Beaver in 

 character, consisting of a soft under-coat overlaid by long glistening 

 hair, and, as in the Beaver, there are scent-pouches situated under the 

 skin below the base of the tail, secreting the musky scent characteristic 

 of this animal, as those of the Beaver do the " Castoreum." 



The Musk- Rat is the common Water- Rat of North America generally, 

 being an abundant animal, and widely distributed all over the Conti- 

 nent, from the "barren grounds" in the North to Mexico. 



In general habits, as in appearance, it is very Beaver-like ; living in 

 small communities by the banks of streams and lakes, and making 

 burrows with entrances under water, while for winter use it constructs 

 domed houses or "lodges" made of grass, sedge, &c, mixed with mud, 

 very like miniature Beaver-houses. The materials of these, being edible 

 from the Musquash's point of view, also serve for a winter supply of 

 food ; the ordinary diet consists of both land- and water-plants, but, un- 

 like the Beaver, the Musquash has a decided carnivorous tendency, and 

 devours fish, molluscs, and other items of animal food. One peculiar 

 point in its habits deserves notice ; it is active during the winter, and 

 when it has to swim for some distance under ice, it will expel the 

 impure air from its lungs and re-inhale the air-bubble thus formed 



193 



2 B 



