2 BULLETIN OF THE LABORATORIES 



limbs are very small. The tail is short and tapering and nearly desti- 

 tute of fur. The enormous fore feet have a greatly expanded palm with 

 special cartilaginous support but these members are not laterally rotat- 

 ed and displaced, as in the moles. The lower surface of the palm has 

 a decided ridge which is reenforced by stiff bristles, making a service- 

 able scraper as the two are pushed in front of the animal. 



The habits being entirely subterranean with the exception of 

 rare nocturnal forays, our acquaintance with the animal must neces- 

 sarily be formed under unfavorable conditions. It is little wonder 

 that when dragged ruthlessly from his home a prisoner in the jaws of 

 a trap, the recluse-like animal produces an unfavorable impression. 

 When thus brought into the blinding glare of the day light he throws 

 himself back upon his haunches, elevates his head, and, half in fury, 

 half in pain, gnashes his teeth and utters the aspirated sigh like spit 

 which is the only note of offense. Blinded by the light, he turns to- 

 ward every sound and appears quite demented. But in the seclusion 

 of his burrow or when once on friendly terms with his captor, he 

 appears a very different creature. Perhaps we are the only persons 

 who have had the opportunity to study the interesting habits of the 

 Geomys in captivity. After a short time he becomes perfectly tame 

 and an engaging pet. When first secured he ate sparingly of potato 

 but evinced decided preference for leaves and rhizomes of red clover, 

 seizing them in one fore paw, which was used as a pair of forceps by 

 bringing the long claws in opposition to the callosity of the palm, and 

 feeding himself gracefully. While eating he assumed a semi-erect atti- 

 tude and arched the back much as the muskrat does. In eating a clover 

 plant he always pursued the same methed, beginning at one extremity 

 and "feeding it into" the mouth rapidly and uniformly using now one 

 fore paw, now the other. After the keen edge of the appetite was re- 

 moved the animal began at once to stow food into his pockets, 

 in doing which he reversed his former position and seemed to all but 

 stand on his head, cramming in the leaves and roots with much celer- 

 ity. The play of the jaws is ordinarily like that of a rat, but at times, 

 when a large root was encountered the jaws were set in rapid motion 

 so that the clicks made by the teeth blended in one uniform clatter. 

 A similar habit has been noticed in several rodents, especially the por- 

 cupine. The only truly vocal sound was a sharp squeak if the hissing 

 note of rage be excepted. Upon the smooth surface of the floor the 

 motions seemed embarrassed and awkward. \ small twine stretched 



