UNITED STATES, 



The wood rat is a very curious animal ; they are 

 not half the size of the domestic rat ; of a dark brown 

 or black colour ; their tail slender and shorter in 

 proportion, and covered thinly with short hair ; 

 they are singular with respect to their ingenuity and 

 great labour in the construction of their habitations, 

 which are conical pyramids about three or four feet 

 high, constructed with dry branches, which they 

 collect v/ith great labour and perseverance, and pile 

 up without any apparent order, yet they are so inter- 

 woven with one another, that it wouki take a bear or 

 v/ild cat seme time to pull one of these castles to 

 pieces, and allow the animals sufficient time to se- 

 cure a retreat with their young. * 



The otter is a voracious animal of great activity 

 and fierceness. When it is fully grown, it is five or 

 six feet long ; wath sharp and strong teeth ; short 

 legs, and membranes in all his feet : and fitted either 

 for running or swimming. 



The otter explores the rivers and ponds in search 

 of fish, frogs, water rats, and other small animals ; 

 and when these are not to be had, he lives on the 

 boughs and bark of young or aquatic trees. He has 

 been generally ranked among the amphibious ani- 

 mals, which can live either in the air or water ; but 

 he is not properly an amphibious animal, for he can- 

 not live without respiration, any more than the land 

 animals. The female is in heat in the winter, and 

 bears her young in the month of March ; the litter 

 generally consists of three or four. The fierceness 

 ond strength of the old otter is such, that the dog can 



* Bartrani's Travel?. 



