238 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



rat-producing marshes, for the little fur animals feed on 

 its bases and root system. 



Marsh cane (Phragmites communis) is characteristic 

 of the Louisiana lowlands. It is usually called "Rozo" by 

 the English-speaking trappers; properly, it is Roseau, a 

 pure French word. Some call it "Sea cane," others "Switch 

 cane," and to many it is "Small rozo." It finds some value 

 as a muskrat food. 



The well-known Feather grass (Panicum virgatum) , 

 with a number of other names, such as Cannish, "Switch 

 grass," Paitte jaune, and "coontail"; as well as " Wild duck 

 millet (Echinochloa walteri) , also called "jungle rice," riz 

 de long, and "wild rice" (not the true wild rice of the north, 

 however), and Giant foxtail (Chaetochloa magna), better 

 known as "jungle millet," find places on the muskrat's 

 menu. 



Some claim that at times the muskrats eat the roots of 

 the common saw grass (Cladium effusum). 



The above list does not mean that the animal under con- 

 sideration does not eat other vegetation, but it does include 

 the more important natural food grasses. 



The two three-cornered grasses, the leafy and the bay- 

 onet, the bulrush and the cattail, as well as the Paille fine 

 grasses, will prove to be the valuable species to those seek- 

 ing real good productive muskrat marshlands in Louisiana. 



There seems to be a division of opinion among a num- 

 ber of practical trappers as to the relative merits of the 

 leafy three-square and the bayonet species. The majority 

 place the bayonet first. It is agreed, however, that the 

 "three-cornered grasses" provide the best food and that the 

 basal parts of the stems and the succulent rooting systems 

 have much to do with the conditioning of the fur, for it has 

 been proved without a doubt that when muskrats find a 

 habitat where these sedges are growing in profusion ani- 

 mals of a superior quality are to be trapped. These plants 

 contain a protein of a high value, are rich in starch, and 

 contain a high saccharine content. 



The term "three-square club rush," so frequently found 

 in books on our flora, is a misnomer, for to be "square" 

 requires four equal sides, and our common and important 



