The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-11-08
The Muskrat.

The MusIxrat.
All my young friends, when they
were in the country in the winter, skat-
ing over the frozen surface of a fresh
water pond or stream, have sometimes
met with curious houses of the muskrst;
and dare wager big apple that they
paused and poked open the roof Of one
to catch glimpse of the family within;
and when the nest was found to be
empty, didn't they skurry away on their
steel runners after the fugitives, which
had taken alarm at their disturbance,
and were hurrying off beneath the ice
out of harms way! But l fear that
most of them were contented with this
meagre investigation of the animals
life, and to this day know nothing more
about it. .,:- d..
In early spring, as soOn as the foods,
caused by the melting of the winters
SHOWS, have subsided, the muskrst ac-
compained by his mate, begins his bur
row in the banks of a stream, or pond.
This burrow is carried into the bank for
distance of SIX or eight feet and has
two, sometimes three, outlets beneath
the surface of the water, and one above
the ground. 81 s-o..
At about The middle Of this burrow,
sometimes in a little branch running
from it, chamber is dug, which rises
above the level of the main passage,
and above the usual rise of the water.
In this chamber the animals carry few
punches of dry grass and sedge, and
their house is ready for occupancy.
Here the female, in April or MAY,
gives birth to her first family Of from
five to eight young; and from that time
until late in autumn, her labors and her
mates are devoted to the raising of these
and usually one or two subsequent fam
lies.
The food most preferred by these
animals is chiefly the roots of grass and
flags which grow in the water. Diving
for these, and digging them up, and
bringing them home for his mate, the
male keeps himself pretty busy. CLANS,
mussels, roots of water-lihes, and clover
assist to make up the regimen; and in
meadow where these animals are at
all abundsnb their paths, running
through the grsssin different directions
as they went for food, may be seen
through the summer. The animals at
this season are rarely seen IN the day
time, for they are nocturnal in their
habits, and, unless their homes are in
very retired localities, seldom venture
out where men are moving.
AS | before remarked, the muskrat
has two or three families of young be-
fore the winter has sealed up its burrow.
The first of these families leave their
parents in July, and, digging burrows
Of their own, soon have young, which
are fully grown when winter sets in;
these remain with their parents, as do
also the last family of the older ones,
until the next spring, in the winter
houses which they construct in the
meadows.
The reeds and grasses, of which the
the roots have been eaten, wash up to
the shores, where they collect into heaps
and dry. These the muskrats gather
in the latter part of autumn, and choos-
ing site uniting the best facilities for
travel beneath the ice in different direc-
tions, with an abundance of food, com
menoe their deme-like house. This is
placed upon shummoek, which is gen
orally above the reach Of fresbets, and
is constructed of layers of punches of
reeds and grasses placed across each
other so as to be woven into compact
fabric, which is built up and over at the
top. This dome, at the first rain,
catches just enough to permit its freez-
ing hard, when the nest within is com
fortably protected from the rigors ofwin-
ter. The nest is approached from De
meath the water, and the animals have,
consequently, most favorable means Of
escape when danger threatens. During
the day they remain quietly at home,
but at night busy themselves in search
of food, which they travel beneath the
the ice to obtain, coming out at air-boles
or springs to breathe. ,a s.-s.l, .s.a
If they happen to, be far from one of
these breathing places when the vitality
in the air in their lungs is exhausted,
the reyitalize itin very quick and SIM
pie manner. They rise to the ice, and
permit the air to escape from their
lungs into the water; this floats up
against the ice, from which, and the
surrounding water, it quickly RECEIVERS
its due proportion Of oxygen, when it is
inhaled into the lungs again, and the
animals are ready to continue their
journey.
| This habit Of the muskrat is well
known to the hunters, who avail them
selves of it to procure many Of the an
imsls. Phey follow the muskrat as it
swims off under the ice, and, when it
comes up to breathe out its bubble,
strike the ice with an axe; muskrat, al
armed at the sudden shock, hurries of
without its necessary supply of air, " hen
Of course, it soon browns.
In addition to this method, the musk
rat is captured by trapping and spear
ling, of which my present limits will
not permit me to speak. As all my
readers well know, 1t is pursued solely
for its fur, which is made into different
articles of apparel 1t is not so yalu-
able as mink or sable, but is very pref
ty and comfortable fur, and is most de-
sirable when taken in the winter or
early spring.-Our Boys and Girls.
A French journal tells the following
story: Two ladies, leading sucking
pig bys string, entered the Agen rail-
way station few days since; but be-
fore they tooks their tickets, they asked
| whether thew Would he allowed Ia carry