46 MUSK RAT. 



bins, built near the edge of some lake or river. 

 These huts are about two feet and a half or three 

 feet in diameter^ plastered with great neatness in 

 the inside, and covered externally with a kind 

 of basket-work, of rushes, &c. interlaced toge- 

 ther so as to form a compact and secure guard, 

 impermeable by water. During the winter these 

 receptacles are generally covered by several feet 

 of snow, and the animals reside in them without 

 being incommoded by it, several families com- 

 monly inhabiting each cabin. It is added that 

 the insides of the receptacles are furnished with 

 a series of steps, to prevent them from being in- 

 jured by inundations. These animals do not lay 

 up a stock of provisions like the Beaver, but form 

 subterraneous passages beneath and round their 

 cabins, to give themselves an opportunity of pro- 

 curing occasional supplies of roots, herbage, &c. 

 According to Mons. Sarrazin the animal is parti- 

 cularly calculated by Nature for its subterraneous 

 habits ; having a great muscular force in its skin, 

 which enables it to contract its body occasionally 

 into a small volume : it has also a great suppleness 

 in the false ribs, which easily admit of contrac- 

 tion, so that it is enabled to pass through holes 

 impervious to much smaller animals than itself. 



During the summer these creatures wander 

 about in pairs, feeding voraciously on herbs and 

 roots. Their odour, which resembles that of 

 musk, is so strong as to be perceived at a consi- 

 derable distance ; and the skin, when taken from 

 the body, still retains the scent : this musky odour 



