151 
1792. Mus zibethicus, Schreb., Siiug., iv, “1792,” 638, pl. 176.—Gm., Syst. 
Nat, i, 1788, 125, No. 2 (quotes Schreber).—Shaw, Gen. Zodl., 
ii, 1801, 44, pl. 129 Gower fig.). 
1792. Myocastor zibethicus, “ Kerr’s Linneeus, 1792.” 
1817. Fiber zibethicus, Cuv., R. A., i. 1817, 192.—Desm., Mamm., 11, 1822, 
279; Encyec. Méth., pl. 67, f.6; Nouv. Dict., xxiii, 506.—Sab., 
Franklin’s Journ., 659.—Harlan, Fn. Amer , 1825, 182 —Griff,, 
Anim. Kingd., v,°1827, 208.—Godman, Am. Nat. Hist., 11, 2d 
ed., 1831, 58.—Rich., F. B. A., i, 1829, 115. (describes black, white, 
and pied varieties —DeKay, N. Y. Zodl., i, 1842, 75, pl. 20, f. 2, 
pl. 32, f. 3 (skull).—Schinz, Syn., ii, 1845, 257—Aud. & Bach., 
Q. N. A., i, 1849, 108, pl 18 —Kennicott, Agric. Rep. U.S. Pat. 
Office for 1856-57, 105, pl. 14—Baird, M. N. A., 1857, 561.— 
| Bulger, P. Z. S., 1865, 682 (habits).—Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. 
Sci., Phila., 1874, 196; Mon. N. A. Rodentia, 1877, 254.—Coues 
and Yarrow, Zool. Expl. W. 100th Merid., 1876, 108.—Jordan, 
_ Man. Vert., 1878, 33; and of authors generally. 
1829. Lemmus zibethicus, “* Fr. Cuvier, Dict. Sc. Nat., vi, 310, fig. —.”’— 
Fisch., Synop , 1829, 289, No. 1. 
1827. Ondatra zibethicus, Less., Man., 1827, 286, No. 793.—Waterh., 
Charlesw. Mag., 111, 1839, 594. 
Description.—A full-grown specimen is about fifteen inches in length, 
from nose to root of tail, and the tail ten inches; the body is heavy, eyes 
small, and incisor teeth large; the ears are small, furry, and deeply im- 
bedded in the general pelage, adapted to exclude water; the tail is mod- 
ified into the semblance and for the purpose of a rudder, being flattened 
sideways nearly throughout its length, permitting free lateral, but little 
vertical flexion. The oblique set of the feet enable the animal toe 
“feather the oar,” as Professor Baird puts it, or bring the feet forward in 
swimming. The sides of the hands and feet are fringed with hairs; the 
soles and palms are perfectly naked ; the hands and feet above are closely 
pilous, with very short adpressed hairs; the palms have five tuberles, 
the soles four ; the vertical width of the tail is increased by a f inge of 
stiffish hairs. The color of the body is ashy-brown above, ashy on the 
under parts. The hair is of two distinct sorts; the basal, long, silky, 
fine, and slightly wrinkled; this is closely compact, especially on the 
belly. The basal hair is light, rusty-brown. Mixed with the basal hair, 
and concealing it on the upper surface, are longer, coarser hairs, of a rich 
chestnut brown, on the belly and sides of head and body. 
Habits.—The Muskrat inhabits North America at large, it is eminently 
aquatic ; on land its movements are as awkward as a duck’s. They are 
