  We describe typical degenerations of quadratic differentials thus describing
``generic cusps'' of the moduli space of meromorphic quadratic differentials
with at most simple poles. The part of the boundary of the moduli space which
does not arise from ``generic'' degenerations is often negligible in problems
involving information on compactification of the moduli space.
  However, even for a typical degeneration one may have several short loops on
the Riemann surface which shrink simultaneously. We explain this phenomenon,
describe all rigid configurations of short loops, present a detailed
description of analogs of desingularized stable curves arising here, and show
how one can reconstruct a Riemann surface endowed with a quadratic differential
which is close to a ``cusp'' by the corresponding point at the principal
boundary.
