OF THE POLAR SEA. 



177 



does to their marten- traps. The Canadian 

 lynx (peeshew) is a timid but well-armed 

 animal, which preys upon the American 

 hare. Its fur is esteemed. The marten 

 (wapeestan) is one of the most common 

 furred animals in the country. The fisher, 

 notwithstanding its name, is an inhabitant of 

 the land, living, like the common marten, 

 principally on mice. It is the otchoek of the 

 Crees, and the pekan of the Canadians. 

 The mink (atjackash) has been often con- 

 founded by writers with the fisher. It is a 

 much smaller animal, inhabits the banks of 

 rivers, and swims well; its prey is fish. 

 The otter (neekeck) is larger than the Eng- 

 lish species, and produces a much more 

 valuable fur. 



The musk rat (w at suss or musquash) is 

 very abundant in all the small grassy lakes. 

 They build small conical houses with a mix- 

 ture of hay and earth ; those which build 

 early raising their houses on the mud of the 

 marshes, and those which build later in the 

 season founding their habitations upon the 

 surface of the ice itself. The house covers 



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