WATER RAT. 



73 



kal, and the Mongolian desert. It makes its bur- 

 rows in a wonderful manner, considering the 

 weakness of its feet, between the fissures of rocks 

 which have been forced open either by the vio- 

 lence of frost, or the insinuation of the roots of 

 plants. It chuses its situation amidst the rudest 

 rocks, forming a large oblique or winding passage 

 through which it flings out the earth, and from 

 this passage proceeds another hole (and some- 

 times there are two), pointing downwards, and 

 winding among the rocks, and in the bottom is 

 situated the nest, composed of soft herbs. The 

 principal food of this species, according to Dr. 

 Pallas, consists of the seeds of various species 

 of Astragalus or Milk- Vetch. 



WATER RAT. 



Mus Amphibius. ill. cauda longitudine dimidia corporis, aurihis 

 tiv velkre prominulis, pedibns subtetradactylis. Lin. Syst. Nat, 

 Gmcl. p. 132. Fall, glir.p. 80. 



Blackish-brown Rat, ash-coloured beneath, with ears scarce pro- 

 jecting from the fur, subtetradactyle fore-feet, and tail about 

 half the length of the body. 



Mus Cauda elongafa pilosaj plantis palmatis. Lin. Syst, Nat, 

 p. 82. 



Mus agrestis major. Gesn, Quadr.p. 733. 

 Le Rat d'eau. Buff. 7. p. ^6S.pl. 43. 

 Water Rat. Fennant Quadr. 2. p, 1^2. 



The Water Rat is a general inhabitant of the 

 temperate, and even the colder parts of Europe 

 and Asia, and occurs also in North America ; fre- 



