MAMMALS OF UTAH 81 



About this home the muskrats place at varying dis- 

 tances, little rafts of rushes, which serve as landing places 

 in summer and breathing holes in winter; for, as the rat 

 ventures afar under the ice in search of food, he must have 

 places where he can rest and eat a bit before exploring for 

 another piece of weed. 



Vegetable matter, such as the bleached ends of long 

 reeds, lilies, stalks and the roots of flags, constitute the 

 greater portion of the muskrat's food though, at times, it 

 eats clams, fish, insects, and even young birds. Quantities 

 of green stuff are stored in their dens to be used as bedding 

 as well as food. 



Hawks, owls, weasels, otters, foxes, and many other vis- 

 itants of the pond are the muskrat's enemies, but the 

 most fearful of all is the mink, which deliberately goes into 

 the poor rat's den to the farthest recess. The pursued 

 rat's only hope is to dive, for the mink is only an ordinary 

 swimmer. 



Winter skins sell at 40 cents to $2.75 each, according to 

 size and quality ; the price of fall skins ranges from 25 cents 

 to $2.25. 



Family GEOMYIDAE— Pouched Rats 



NEVADA MUSKRAT 



FIBER ZIBETHICUS MERGENS (HoUister) 



Fiber zibethicus mergens HoUister, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 

 XXIII, I, February 2d, 1910. 



Description — Fresh pelage: Above, grayish brown; 

 Tiead and dorsal area blackish; cheeks, shoulders and sides 

 rusty; under parts creamy white with central area pale 

 cinnamon or russet; usual spot on chin blackish brown. 

 Fall specimens, before the black hairs have come in, are 

 sometimes quite rusty above.' Worn pelage: Above, uni- 

 form pale yellowish brown, sides and under parts with little 

 rusty. (HoUister.) 



Distribution — Northern part of the Great Basin, south- 

 eastern Oregon, northeastern California, Nevada and west- 

 ern Utah. The Utah specimens thus far are from St. 



George. 



Clinton Milne says: "Muskrats are numerous in the 

 streams and swamps near St. George, and are on the in- 

 crease. I do not think they do much damage. Many trap 

 the muskrat and sell their pelts for from 25 to 35 cents." 



