The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-10
The Muskrat as a Mason.

As soon rs the first frosts are felt, the
muSkrat selects q 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 frst place they
gnaw of at the waters edge quantity
Of coarse grasses, rushes and small
bushes. Gathering this between the
chin and iorepaw, as II carrying tue
material in their arms, they push it he.
fore them where they intend usingit. The
place where they have harvested their
grass and ruslles looks rs II some one
had moved il with q scythe. After the
muskrats have brought together mate
rial enough to make a solid foundation,
and have raised the structure to the
waters edge, they dive elowaud tunnel
underneath II, coming mp 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 ont from the inside until it
Is raised to the right height and rooled
over oras Whittier poeticalIy describes
II: ,t. r.u
1.-THE mnskrat piled the mlson'a trade,
And tier by tier hls mud walls laid"
Inside this hillock q small chamber
about foot in diameter is left, aud
here, with solid, compact walls, some-
times two feet thick. the muskrats have
their winter quarters. H
Their tunnels give them access to
the water when the brook is frozen over.
In tho winter q rap on this nest will
bring one or more Of its inmates ont,
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, II the brook is frozen
over, a 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 anil one
eye above water, takes IN observation
and breath Of fresh air at tho same
time, but instantly dives agiin. o..
These nests vary in size, and look
quite rough when first built and until
the snow and ram smooths them of. II
the nest Is broken open they immedi.
ately begin repairs, working from the
inside. When the meadows aud brooks
nre frozen over, the nests appear as il
built on the ice, and sometimes, in the
late winter or spring freshets, tile upper
part OF the nest Is lifted up and moved,
which would naturally confirm this i'm.
preston: but upon examination 1t will
lie found that the foundation always
rests on tho SOLID ground below.
Last fall the nuskrats, moved by
some freak built a nest in the boat.
house at Punkapog pond, after the boat
as housed for the season. The fonn'
dation OF the nest rested partly on The
floor OF the house, which, owing to the
high water, was submerged p; and as the
boat was not raised in the house, the
space between II aud the floor served
tue same purpose as the tunnel they.
unier ordinary circumstances. would
make. All the fishing tackle, aud
everything they could manage, was
drawn together 10 help form their struc.
ture. When the house was opened in
the spring the nest was found. II was
estimated that in building it about Ave
bushels OF material had been brought
in. Tie tenants were 10th TO leave their
comfortable quarters, returning again
and again as the work Of removing the
material went on. % Hi.I .I,s