in.se 
Fuskrata 
was some crowding and nipping at first but soon all were 
sound asleep. I moved a little aid made a slight noise 
when all sprang up and scattered in great alarm, but^after 
getting a spod look at me bee.?me quickly reassured and pre¬ 
pared for another nap to which I left them* These four 
(or five) usk-rats were all of about the same size and 
perhaps two-thirds grown. At this age they are evidently 
social, gentle, playful, confiding, but X fear also somewhat 
stupid and phlegmatic as compared It. the young of most of 
our wild mammals. It is worthy of remark that they have 
made the usual hassocks whereon they are in the habit of 
sitting and that in no' instance have I seen one remain for 
more than a few moments on the bare floor. The hassocks 
are composed of small quantities of aquatic plants, chiefly 
bladderwort, carelessly arranged in a circle. They ajre 
invariably kept sopping wet. The question arises at once » 
''Do they swerve the purpose of cushions or that of sponges — 
to keep the occupant of the seat agree- bly moist a.id cool?” 
Yesterday when I crawled into the house, I dls- 
\ ■ - ■ 
tlnctly saw the large mother busk-rat on her .new .test 
under the bow of ray canoe and, later I he rd at least one of Y 
the young, still naked, bi^ind, and apparently no larger than 
when I sax? it first, lay dead on the floor outaidt the rim. 
The mother was'not in or under the house while 2 was there. 
The hair-grown young make frequent excursions, 
from the house at all hours of the day, sometimes going to 
