Connecticut western news., 1873-11-14
The Muskrat as a Mason.

As soon as the first frosts are felt, the muskrat selects mud bar, or spot where the bushes grow in the winter, often near lilies-as the root of this plant is favorite article of food with them-and proceed to lay foundation for their house. In the first place they gnaw off at the waters edge quantity of coarse grasses, rushes and small bushes. Gathering this between the chin and forepaw, as if carrying the material in their arms, they push it be- fore them where they intend usingit. The place where they have harvested their grass and rushes looks as if some one had moved it with scythe. After the muskrats have brought together mate rial enough to make solid foundation, and have raised the structure to the waters edge, they dive below and tunnel underneath it, coming up through the middle of the mass. The work is then carried on from the inside mud, de- cayed vegetation, moss, and other ma terial, is carried through this tunnel and pushed out from the inside until it is raised to the right height and rooled over oras Whittier poetically describes it:
 '' The muskrat piled the mason's trade,
 And tier by tier bis mud walls laid." +
 Inside this hillock small chamber about foot in diameter is left, and here, with solid, compact walls, soIne- times two feet thick, the muskrats have their winter quarters.
 Their tunnels give them access to the water when the brook is frozen over. In the winter rap on this nest will bring one or more of its inmates out, and you will see them scatter away on the bottom of the brook, picking their way among the stones and roots, leaving wherever they go, if the brook is frozen over, line of bubbles under the ice. When an open space is reached the creature gently rises to the waters sur face, and just putting the nose and one eye above water, takes an observation and breath of fresh air at the same time, but instantly dives again. .,,. .-.
 These nests vary in size, and look quite rough when first built and until the snow and rain smooths them off. If the nest is broken open they immedi- ately begin repairs, working from the inside. When the meadows and brooks are frozen over, the nests appear as if built on the ice, and sometimes, in the late winter or spring freshets, the upper part of the nest is lifted up and moved, which would naturally confirm this inn pression but upon examination it will be found that the foundation. always rests on the solid ground below. ..' -.
 Last fall the nuskrats, moved by some freak built nest in the boat house at Punkapog pond, after the boat was housed for the season. The foun- dation of the nest rested partly on the floor of the house, which, owing to the high water, was submerged and as the boat was not raised in the house, the space between it and the floor served the same purpose as the tunnel they, under ordinary circumstances, would make. All the fishing tackle, and everything they could manage, was drawn together to help form their struc- ture. When the house was opened in the spring the nest was found. It was estimated that in building it about five bushels of material had been brought in. The tenants were 10th to leave their comfortable quarters, returning again and again as the work of removing the material went on.