HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 381 



is about the fize of a young Rabbit : Its head is thick 

 and fhort, refembling that of a Water-Rat ; its hair foft 

 and glofiy ; beneath the outward hair there is a thick fine 

 down, very ufeful in the manufacture of hats ; it is of a 

 reddifh-brown colour ; its breaft and belly afh, tinged 

 with red; its tail is long and flat, covered with fcales; 

 its eyes are large ; its ears fhort and hairy ; it has two 

 ftrong cutting-teeth in each jaw, — thofe of the under jaw 

 are about an inch long, but the upper ones are (horter. 



This animal is a native of Canada, where it is called 

 the Ondatra. 



In many refpecls, it very much refembles the Beaver, 

 both in form and manners. It is fond of the water, and 

 fwims well. — At the approach of winter, feveral families 

 aflbciate together. They build little huts, about two feet 

 in diameter, compofed of herbs and rufhes cemented 

 with clay, forming a dome-like covering : From thefe 

 are feveral paflages, in different directions, by which 



they go out in queft of roots and other food. The 



hunters take them in the fpring, by opening their holes, 

 and letting in the light fuddenly upon them. — At that 

 time their flefti is tolerably good, and is frequently eaten j 



The MUSK-RAT of Canada 



