MUSK RAT. 47 



is owing to a whitish fluid deposited in certain 

 o'lands situated near the orioin of the tail. It has 

 been supposed that the Calamus aromaticus, or 

 sweet flag (Acorus Calamus. Lin.), which these 

 animals select as a favourite food, may contribute 

 to their fragrant smell. They walk and run in 

 an awkward manner, like the Beaver^ and they 

 cannot swim so readily as that animal, their feet 

 being unfurnished with webs. Their voice is said 

 to resemble a groan. The females produce their 

 young towards the beginning of summer, and 

 have five or six at a time ; and these, if taken 

 early, are easily tamed, and become very spor- 

 tive ; and it is remarkable that the tail, which in 

 the full-grown animal is as long as the body, is 

 at that period very short. 



The fur of this species is greatly esteemed as a 

 commercial article, resembling that of the Beaver. 

 Linnaeus in the twelfth edition of the Systema 

 Naturse ranked the animal under the genus Cas- 

 tor ; and Mr. Pennant has followed his example. 

 Mr. Schreber, however, considers it as belonging 

 in strict propriety to the present genus. 



