236 



Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



A mixed flock of blue and snow geese rising from the marshes. In the foreground can 

 be seen the places where they have eaten out the rootstalks of three-square rush, or 

 "goose grass," leaving puddles of water. In such marshes muskrats abound. 



inhabitants of the marshlands, is another food of the musk- 

 rat and where it occurs in abundance is used for house 

 building by these fur animals in preference to other grasses. 

 It is also called "Switch grass" and "Meadow grass." 



The so-called couch grass (partina patens var. juncea), 

 another Paille fine, is an important food and house-building 

 grass. This is the common "hay grass" of the Louisiana 

 marshes. To some it is a "salt meadow grass," to others 

 a "wire grass," or a "needle grass." 



The quill cane (Spartina glabra) is also eaten by these 

 mammals. The French-speaking trappers call this vege- 

 tation Cannes de cochon, or "hog cane," and sometimes 

 Roseau de cochon. Others refer to it as Herb d'huitre, or 

 "oyster grass," and the name "small rozo" is also applied 

 by English-speaking trappers. 



