ings, and many of the animals die. It is to be remarked that the small grassy
lakes selected by the Musquash for its residence, are never so firmly frozen nor
covered with such thick ice as deeper and clearer water. The Indians kill
these animals by spearing them through the walls of their houses, making their
approach with great caution, for the Musquashes take to the water when alarmed
by a noise on the ice. An experienced hunter is so well acquainted with the
direction of the chamber, and the position in which its inmates lie, that he can
transfix four or five at a time. As soon as, from the motion of the spear, it is
evident that an animal is struck, the house is broken down, and it is taken out.
The principal seasons for taking the Musquash are the autumn before the snow
falls, and the spring after it has disappeared, but while the ice is still entire. In
the winter time, the depth of snow prevents the houses and breathing holes
from being seen. One of the first operations of the hunter is to stop up all the
holes, with the exception of one, at which he stations himself to spear the
animals that have escaped being struck in the houses, and oome thither to
breathe. In the summer, the Musquash burrows in the banks of the lakes,
making branched canals many yards in extent, and forming its nest in a chamber
at the extremity, in which the young are brought forth. When its house is
attacked in the autumn, it retreats to these passages ; but in the spring they are
frozen up.
The Musquash is a watchful, but not a very shy animal. It will come very
near to a boat or canoe, but dives instantly on perceiving the flash of a gun. It
may be frequently seen sitting on the shores of small muddy islands, in a rounded
form, and not easily to be distinguished from a piece of earth, until, on the
approach of danger, it suddenly plunges into the water. In the act of diving,
when surprised, it gives a smart blow to the water with its tail. Heame states,
that it is easily tamed, soon grows fond, is very cleanly and playful, and smells
pleasantly (!) of musk.*
The fur of this animal is used in the manufacture of hats. Between four and
five hundred thousand skins are annually imported into Great Britain from North
America.
* It is singular that Hearne, who must have seen vast numbers of these animals, should describe the hind-feet as
webbed. There is no vestige of a web; although the marginal row of long hairs fits the feet to act as oars.
F iber Z ibethicus, var. B, nigra. Black Musquash.
It is not uncommon to find a Musquash of a very dark brown colour, approaching
to black; but one covered with fur of a pure black colour is rare, though
of occasional occurrence.
F iber Z ibethicus, var. C, maculosa. Pied Musquash.
I have seen, in the possession of an Indian, the skin of a Musquash which was
ariegated with dark, blackish-brown patches, on a white ground.
F iber Zibethicus, var. D, alba. White Musquash.
Fiber Zibethicus—albus. Sabine, Franklin's Joum., p. 660.
An albino variety of the Musquash is not very unfrequent: I have seen
several.