122 



ZOOLOGY. 



resulting in an awkward scrambling gait. Among the confused masses of 

 rock, however, they are more at home, and pass swiftly and with little 

 apparent effort over and among them. They are gifted with considerable 

 curiosity, and, having gained the mouths of their retreats, will often stop and 

 gaze for some time upon the strange form of the intrusive stranger. This 

 trait, however, never causes them to become forgetful of their own safety, 

 as upon the first show of hostility they disappear as if by magic. Occa- 

 sionally, we noticed a burrow in the more open ground, partially screened by 

 bushes ; this, however, is rare, the broken lavaic rocks being their chosen 

 home. Upon inquiry, we learned that this little animal was well known in 

 this section (Camp Bowie) for its depredations on the hen-coops, its aim being 

 the eggs, which it was often successful in carrying off. Dr. Freeman 

 informed its that many had been taken in traps set for this purpose, and 

 that upon one occasion he himself had detected an individual in the act of 

 taking his departure with an egg in his mouth." (Hensliaw.} 



Genus CYNOMYS. Raf. 



CYNOMYS COLUMBIANUS, (Ord) Allen. 



Arctomys columbianus, ORD, Gutbrie's Geog., 2d Am. ed., ii, 1815, 292, 302 (from 



Lewis & Clark). 



Cynomys columbianus, ALLEN, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xvi, 1874, p. . 

 Anisonyx brachyiira, KAF., Am. Monthly Mag., ii, 1817, 45 (from Lewis & Clark). 

 Arctomys brackyum, HAUL., Pn. Am., 1825, 304. FISCH., Syn., 1829, 345. 

 Arctomys Icwisi, AUD. & BACH., Q. N. A., iii, 1853, 32, pi. cvii. 

 Cynomys gunnisoni, BD., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1855, 334. BAIBD, Mamm. N. 



A., 1857, 335. COUES, Ain. Nat., i, 1867, 362. 



Specimens. 



