CONCORD 
1893 
May 14 
s Hill 
Bass eaten 
by Mink 
Muskrats 
To Ball's Hill at 10 A. M. in the Stella Maris, 
paddling down. Just before starting I found at our landing a 
bass of about a pound in weight, perfectly fresh but with 
the tail and about the posterior third of the body eaten off 
by a Mink, Mr. Buttrick thinks. Saw no less than five 
Muskrats between Hunt's Pond and Dakin's Hill, two of them 
a pair, evidently, the male pursuing the female closely, 
uttering continuously the murmuring call. This at times 
sounded almost like the wailing cry of a little child. The 
female wound in and out among the stems of some flooded 
bushes, apparently trying her best to escape from the amorous 
attentions of her mate, but probably really giving him some 
encouragement to pursue. Once, however, when he overtook 
and sprang upon her from behind, she sprang clear out of 
\vater and then dove, thms escaping him, the two animals 
making as loud a splash as if a big dog had jumped into the 
water. I heard these loud splashings repeatedly on the night 
of the 10th when Muskrats were out and calling in unusual 
numbers. After this female dove, she came up some distance 
away and made straight off up river; the male turned back 
into the lushes and sought her in every direction vainly, 
cutting back and forth, wailing incessantly and as I thought 
in despairing tones. I do not think he found her again on 
this occasion. 
(on reaching Ball's Hill I found Spelman, whom Pat 
had met at West Bedford and ferried across the river. We 
