Crass I. WATER RAT. 
and fometimes on roots: it has a fifhy tafte; and 
in fome countries is eaten; M. de Buffon inform- 
ing us that the peafants in France eat it on maigré 
days. | 
It fwims and dives admirably well, and con- 
tinues lone under water, though the toes are divid- 
ed like thofe of the common rat; not conneéted — 
by membranes, as Mr. Ray imagined; and as Lin- 
neus, and other writers, relate after him. — 
The male weighs about nine ounces; the 
length feven inches from the end of the nofe to 
the tail; the tail five inches: on each foot are five 
toes, the inner toe of the fore-foot is very fmall; the 
firft joint of the latter is very flexible, which mutt 
affift it greatly in fwimming, and forming its retreat. 
The head is large, the ears fmall, and fcarce appear 
through the hair: the nofe blunt, and the eyes lit- 
tle: the teeth large, ftrong, and yellow: the head 
and body are covered. with thick and pretty long 
hairs, chiefly black ; but mixed with fome of a red- 
difh hue: the belly is of an iron-grey: the tail is 
covered with fhort black hairs, the tip of it with 
white hairs. 
A female that we opened had fix young ones 
mi if. 
Maus 
119 
