reported in table XI. The preference of nutria for big cordgrass 
and reed was especially evident where these plants occurred as 
scattered individuals or in small colonies. Old rhizomes of these 
two species were sometimes dug out by nutria on Transect B. 
Sawgrass necessarily formed the bulk of the nutria's food on 
Transect D. The low nutria population in this vegetation type, 
in a region of various vegetative types where nutria early developed 
and maintained a substantial population, would suggest that a mature 
Sawgrass stand does not provide preferred food. 
Other species of plants occurred as minor components of 
Transects A, B, and C. Among these, cattail and wild millet’ seemed 
to be selected as food by the nutria where they occurred. Cattail 
occurred rarely on the various saltmeadow cordgrass types of Tran- 
sects A and C, and on Transect D, but was not recorded on the 
transects. Wild millet formed small percentages of the vegetation 
on Transects B and C. Sedge species without tuberous rootstalks 
were utilized during winvser where other food was scarce, as on 
Transect BE. 
DISCUSSION 
At the peak of the nutria population in our area during the 
summers of 1954 and 1955, openings (both large and small) occupied 
a large percentage of the area crossed by the transects. With the 
decrease of the nutria population, probably beginning during the 
summer of 1955, there was an immediate recovery of the vegetation. 
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