48 An Hîjîorîcal Journal of 



Thing of the Bones of the Porcupine. The Generality of the 

 Savages give another Reafon for this ; it is, they fay, not to 

 enrage the Spirits of thefe Animals, which would hinder at an- 

 other Time the Chace from being fuccefsfuL For the reft, M^- 

 dam, I wonder they have not tried to tranfport fome of tbefe 

 wonderful Creatures into France y we have Places enough where 

 they might find Food enough, and Materials for building, and 

 I believe they would multiply there prefently. 



We have here alfo a little Animal much of the fame Nature 

 Of the Mufk Beaver, which in many Refpeds feems 



■n / '^^ to be a fmaller Species, and is called the 



^ • Mujk Rat. It has, in Fad, almoft all th« 



Properties of the Beaver, the Shape of the Body, and efpecially 

 of the Head of both, is fo alike, that one would take the Mulk 

 Rat for a little Beaver, if his Tail was cut off, v/hich is almoft 

 like that of our Rats; and if its Tefticles were taken away, which 

 contain a moft exquifite Mulk. This Animal, which weighs about 

 four Founds, is much like that which Mr. Ray defcribes under 

 the Name of Mus Alpinus., It takes the Field in the Month of 

 Marché and its Food is then fome Bits of Wood, which it peals 

 before eating them. A^fterthe Snows are melted, it lives upon 

 the P.oots of Nettles, then on the Stalks and Leaves of this 

 Plant. In Summer it feeds moftly on Raft)erries and Straw- 

 berries, and afterwards on other autumnal Fruits. During this 

 Seafon, the Male is feldom feen without the Female ; When 

 Winter begins they feparate, and each goes to find a Lodging 

 in fome Hole, or the Hollow of a Tree, without any Provifions ; 

 ^nd the Savages ailirm that as long as the Cold lafts they eat 

 nothing. 



They build alfo Cabins, fcmething like thofe of the Beavers^ 

 but very far from being fo well built. As to their Situation, it 

 |s always by the Water Side, fo they h^ve no Occafion to make 

 .^ny Darns. They fay that the Fur of the Mufk Rat may be 

 mixt with that of the Beaver in making Hats, without any 

 Prejudice to the Work. Its Flefli is not bad but in rutting 

 Time; then it is not poiTible to deprive it of 2, Mufkinefs, which 



is not fo pleafant to the Tafte as to the Smell. 1 was very 



much inclined. Madam, to give you an Account of the other 

 Chaces of the Savages, and of the Animals that are peculiar to 

 this Country, but I muft defer it to another Opportunity. I am 

 Juft now informed that my Carriage is ready, and I am going 

 to fet cut, 



I am y See, 



