Young 
Muskrats 
7/7/r a> 
11 2 " 
4 ^ 
reg8.rded me with some distrust for whenever I advanced my 
hand they would scuttle to the nearest crack and prepare to 
take to the water. Seeing this, I sat still and watched 
them for nearly half-an-hour. They were evidently drowsy and 
somewhat annoyed by the glaring light (it was near noon of 
a sunny day) which came in through the open doors for they 
blinked continuously and often closed their eyes for several 
minutes at a time. Every now and then one wou}.d yawn and 
quickly go to sleep either sitting in the usual crouching 
posture or on his side, curled up like a cat; but his slum¬ 
bers were sure to be soon interrupted by one of the others 
who would creep up to him and nibble the end of his tail 
playfully when the sleeper would of course awake and retal¬ 
iate by an equally good-natured nip, or perhaps would seize 
his tormentor between both fore paws when the two would 
roll over and over in great glee, waving their long tails 
about. These gambols were less animated and more clumsy 
than those of kittens and resembled most those of young Bears. 
A favorite occupation seemed to be biting at real or 
imaginary fleas, the Musk-rat sometimes operating on his 
own person but- usually on that of one of his companions. 
Once two went to work most vigorously on a third which, 
sitting directly between them, seemed to enjoy their atten¬ 
tions exceedingly. At length all three huddled together, 
presenting the appearance of a great mound of fur. There 
I* 
