Ondatra zibethica zibethica. Muskrat.
Forest—shore, 5.
Water lily, 1.
Pondweed, 2.
Willow-thicket, signs.
Muskrats are numerous in the Cisco Lake Region, and five specimens were taken. Near Little Girl's Point one was seen swimming in a small stream. At the mouth of Merriweather Creek on Gogebic Lake signs were noted in a willow thicket, and muskrats were reported numerous in the region.
An adult female trapped July 6 at Fish-hawk Lake contained six large embryos; another female taken July 10 contained no embryos, but the mammae were filled with milk; and two females taken July 26 contained no embryos.
In the Cisco Lake Region broken mussel shells were abundant in the muskrat runways along the shores. Remains of pondweeds were also frequently found in the runways, and a quantity of leaves with a few heads containing flowers and seeds collected July 8 were identified by E. A. Bessey as Potamogeton richardsonii.
Zapus hudsonius hudsonius. Jumping-mouse.
Mud-flat, 4.
Tall-sedge, 12.
Grassy-meadow, 8,
Arbor-vitae swamp, 1.
Sphagnum bog, 1.
Black spruce—tamarack bog, 1.
Wet hardwood forest, 2.
Dry hardwood forest, 1.
Shrub stage, 10.
Paper birch—aspen stage, 2.
Numerous in suitable habitats in the Cisco Lake Region, at Little Girl's Point, and at Gogebic Lake. Most common in open grasses and sedges. Five of those recorded above from the shrub stage were taken in open shrubs and grass in the clearing around the camp house on Lindsley Lake; and the two recorded from the paper birch—aspen stage were taken at Cisco Lake in an open stand of old paper birch with a forest floor of grass.
Juveniles were taken throughout the summer, but no one of seven adult or nearly adult females examined between July 7 and September 4 contained embryos.
A captive taken July 18, after feeding ravenously on a cooky, retired to a corner and went to sleep. The position taken in this case was a sitting one, the animal resting on the widely spread feet as far as the heels, and on the tail. The head was bent far over, the nose extending between the hind legs. The long tail was curled around the body, it resting on the ground for its whole length. The operation of cleaning the tail was observed two days later. The animal worked from the base of the tail toward the tip, using the fore feet to present the tail to the mouth, where it was licked off. During the process the head was held over on one side, nearly touching the ground.