OLD EISTEDDFOD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 25

OLD EISTEDDFOD

;.-■■■ , » ;, i — j Eisteddfod, (a sitting) was originally a congress of Welsh bards and minstrels, and dates from before the twelfth century. These assemblies dis- ' continued for a long period, were resumed in 1819, and have been held yearly ever since, each, lasting three [or four days. Their object is to foster the Welsh patriotic spirit; they are devoted to orations and competitions in ! poetry, singing, and harp-playing, ! prizes being awarded to the successful | contestants. The proceedings are in : Welsh and English. ;■ "■ -■■...•. •••.'" #•' ' ' - MISCHIEVOUS MUSK RAT ■ ■ -.—,—~«> ! Musquash is such a useful fur that [one might think it would be profitable |to bring musk-Fats into any country; [but the skins obtained do not begin |to make up for the damage done by these animals. While foxes may be confined in fur farms, nobody can keep musk-rats within bounds. In their j home in North America they are kept in check by their natural, enemies; when they are taken to England they thrive so well and increase in numbers so rapidly that, if men do not work hard trapping them, they become a real danger. Musk-rats* are much larger rodents than the native water-voles of England, and as most of their life is spent in gnawing, their work soon becomes noticeable. Their forepaws have short thumb's bearing claws that help them to grasp the plants they use for food and for building purposes, but their strong teeth are even more important. They munch quantities of plant food, including valuable crops, and also eat fresh-water mussels, fishes, and sometimes even fowls. Musk-rats live in colonies, numerous animals often sharing one '"lodge," a sheltering mound made of reeds and mud, and in their home-making they tunnel deep into river banks, undermining them, sstd frequently destroy dams, thuSj causing floods.