92 ' ANIMAL COMPETITORS 
these rodents are not naturally numerous, and 
they persist in the midst of civilized districts 
in a marvelous way. There would seem to be 
no difficulty then in colonizing a new artificial 
marsh or pond for the sake of rearing them. 
Such a place, however, must have a natural or 
planted growth of suitable food-plants—lilies, 
arums, sedges, etec—whose roots form their 
winter subsistence. Among the principal of 
these plants are yellow and white pond-lilies, 
the golden clubhead or river-bulrush, a large 
sedge whose fleshy tubers are nutritious, and 
the lotus (Nelumbo). In summer they feed 
upon a far more extensive list of aquatic plants 
and shore grasses, vegetables and fruits, and 
also largely on mussels, snails, crayfish, caddis- 
worms, sluggish fish, like carp, and now and 
then catch ducks and other small animals. 
The feeding-habits of the wild muskrats of the 
locality should be carefully. considered. 
The highest usefulness of a ‘‘muskrat-farm’’ 
would be gained, however, by improving the 
stock in size and color. To do this selective 
breeding should be attempted. The larger and 
blacker the pelt the higher price it will bring. 
