350 Di i,artment of Conservation of Louisiana 



When the litters were dropped Mr. Arpin did not ex- 

 amine the young as to sex, believing that it would not be 

 good practice to handle the animals, stating: "I know of 

 several men who have been unsuccessful in raising musk- 

 rats in confinement and, after inquiring into their methods, 

 I found that they invariably had the habit of handling their 

 'rats to make them tame. This, I believe, was the main 

 cause of their failures. I have, therefore, made it a rule 

 not to handle the 'rats or disturb them any more than is 

 absolutely necessary. 



"1 feed my r animals in tin pans and give them mainly 

 corn chops and rolled oats. For green food I give them 

 clover, cattails and water lilies. Every afternoon I give 

 them fresh water and food. In addition to the water pans 

 I supply each coop with a box about 8 inches high in which 

 I keep fresh water and mud. This gives them a place to 

 play in and tends to keep their drinking water cleaner. 



"I notice that in the open type of coop I am using now 

 the 'rats are gradually becoming accustomed to having peo- 

 ple about. I have one pair with four young that will come 

 out at feeding time and eat while I am standing close by, 

 but this is true of this one pair only. Some of the others 

 will come out soon after feed is placed in their coops, but 

 will run back in their dens when I approach too close to 

 the pen." 



