252 FIELD COLUMBIAN MUSEUM ZOOLOGY, VOL. i. 



large skull. While in the bushes or grass the movements of this 

 animal appear to be exceedingly quick, as it would immediately 

 disappear from view, yet those that I have seen in the open 

 did not move with unusual rapidity, the heavy body and ex- 

 ceedingly short legs being apparently decidedly opposed to any 

 celerity of action. The most peculiar habit to which they are 

 addicted, and which gives them their commonly accepted name 

 of "Farmer," is that of making "hay." They usually dig 

 their burrows in the vicinity of a water plant, apparently a kind 

 of low-growing lily, and this they cut down in quantities and 

 carry it near the mouths of their burrows, and spreading it out 

 leave it to be dried by the sun, and when sufficiently cured it 

 is drawn into the holes to serve either for food or bedding, 

 perhaps both. The photograph gives a good idea of the place 

 the animals select to live in, and of the plant which they use 

 for making hay. This was near our camp, in the vicinity of 

 Happy Lake, and was the resort of quite a colony of " Farmers," 

 most of whom returned to the East with me. 



This animal has a most peculiar hand, admirably adapted for 

 grasping. Near to an opposable thumb is a prominent, some- 

 what lengthened basal tubercle, and any object placed between 

 this and the thumb is held very firmly. The enlarged photo- 

 graph of the hand, taken from life, shows this and the other tuber- 

 cles very plainly. 



It would seem as though too many forms of this genus had been 

 described; but without the same material to judge by, it is never 

 wise to cast doubt upon another's decision who has been more 

 favorably situated and better able thereby to arrive at a more cor- 

 rect conclusion. At the best, however, it can only be considered 

 that the work of all those at present engaged on North American 

 mammals is but tentative, and we must wait for the future 

 monographer who, with all the material now available, shall add 

 to it a very large number of additional specimens to determine 

 the proper status of many forms now regarded as distinct. 



Twelve examples: Johnson's Ranch, 2; Happy Lake, 9; 

 Boulder Lake, i; i skeleton, Happy Lake. 



