. The quadrupeds of North America [microform]. Mammals; Rodentia; Mammifères; Rongeurs. 'Sdi-iM MUSK-RAT. 115 houses from two to four feet above the wa^er the entrance being always from below. W. ,ve (re,,uently opened th, se nests and found in tho centre a,lryc-nnf,„.,able bed of «rass, sumcicutly lar^e to accommodate several ol ihrni. '.»^hen the ponds are frozen over, and a fall of snow .-ovirs the cround, these ediliees resemble small hay-cocks There .^ peculiarity thai, it appears to us, indicates a greater degree of u. Hh,..nce m the Musk-Kat ,han we are usually dispos
. The quadrupeds of North America [microform]. Mammals; Rodentia; Mammifères; Rongeurs. 'Sdi-iM MUSK-RAT. 115 houses from two to four feet above the wa^er the entrance being always from below. W. ,ve (re,,uently opened th, se nests and found in tho centre a,lryc-nnf,„.,able bed of «rass, sumcicutly lar^e to accommodate several ol ihrni. '.»^hen the ponds are frozen over, and a fall of snow .-ovirs the cround, these ediliees resemble small hay-cocks There .^ peculiarity thai, it appears to us, indicates a greater degree of u. Hh,..nce m the Musk-Kat ,han we are usually disposed to award to it. The annnal to know that the ice wiu cover the pond in winter, and tl>.«t il It has no places to which it can resort to breathe, it will be suffb- catrd. Hence you hers and there see what are called breathing places Ih. se are coyered ovc-r with mud on the sides, with some loose grass in the oentre to preserve them from too easily frozen over. We have occasionally seen these winter-huts of the Musk-Rat, in the vicinity of then- snug summer retreats in some neighbouring rivers bank, and have been half ...clined to suppose, that for some cause or other they gave a preference to this kind of residence. We are not, however aware that these nests are use ol' by Musk-Rat in spring for Ihe purpose of rearing its young. We believe these animals always for that purpose resort to holes in the sides of ponds, sluggish streams, or dykes. ' In such situations we have frequently observed the young, which when Ihey hrst make their appearance are seon emerging from a side gallery leading to the surface, so that they are not of necessity obliged to "take a dive" until they have had a little acrica, the Musk-Rat is less sought after, and in some of our most thickly districts has greatly increased in tmmbers. The country-people, Tiowever, continue to destroy it to pre- vent its becoming so numerous as to cause loss
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Keywords: ., bookauthorau, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectmammals
