The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20
a Natural History Study

few days afterwards we had some warm
weather. and the snow and ice melted from
the surface OF the lake. After that there
came some clear, frosty nights. and again
the lake was frozen over, this time with
strong, transparent ice. / went TO visit the
muskrat house. and when l came near I
ran out upon the ice and leaped upon the
dome of the little dwelling shaking IL TO
It's foundations | could hear no sound
ture l saw three or four shadowy forms
shooting outward through the water be-
meath the ice. OF course these were the
rats, and l managed to keep my eye on
white birch log, close TO the under surface
of the ice. He had been there perhaps a
minute, when the idea OF timing him oc-
CURED TO me, and pulled out my watch.
For three minutes there was not a sign
of movement, and then a few bubbles arose
TO the ice About minute later. some
more bubbles came up, and then the animal
himself hoated up against the ice. At I'VE
minutes from the time / took out the
w .pd b tne rat lay h without sign OF life
SO i stamped my foot upon the fee. and
like a black streak he dived and was gone
He had been under water at least six min
utes, and by the way he dived and swan
away afterwards he seemed little the worse
for the experience.
In the spring the freshets came, and the
surface of the lake rose until the muskrat
house was almost submerged Then, one
morning, IL was washed from its founda-
tons and the lighter parts Of IL fioated far
banks. and they dug long tunnels In the
sort SOIL Many OF the tunnels ila1 two
openings, one at the top or side OF the bank
and the other down under the water. The
last was the one they usually used when
entering or leaving their home: the other
served not only as a doorway occasfonaiiys
but as an air-shaft TO ventiate the bur-
row. sometimes on warm evenings. / would
hide In the bushes near the bank. and watch
the rats swimming about, chasing one an
other. or lying fiat OH the surface OF the
lake.
Sometimes / would see one. homeward
bound. swim straight toward the shore
when he would dive. and presently / would
hear certain hollow sound as he clambered
into his burro@ through the submerged en-
trance. And sometimes. In the middle OF
grass for her nest. She would swim quietly
TO spot where the grass was thick and
landing, she would walk about. shedding the
water from her shining coat and bite OF
tuft after tuft OF grass until her mouth
would hold no more Then she would launch
herself into the water. swim 10 within a
short distance OF her burrow and dive A
few minutes later she would reappear aud
swim on for another load.
In the burrows In the banks. the young
muskrats are born, and l have seen these
little fellows at many stages of their i'm
maturity At first they are blind and hair
less with very blunt noses. and with short
sturdy limbs and thickset bodies When
they begin TO get their fur, they are pretty
little creatures, and soon they learn 10 fol-
low their mother out OF the burrox. aud
even TO accompany her I'm excursions across
the lake or stream near which they live.
Sometimes I have seen several Of them
sitting together on a log or stone near the
water. into which they would scramble like
turtles at the first sign OF danger. BY the
fall they are practically full gown aud
and sticks and leaves with which TO make .
winter home.