446 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



trance of the burrow, into whicli the animal will fall when emerging 

 from the latter in search of food. Wailes, however, in his report on 

 the resources of Mississippi, gives an account of another method, which 

 "was related to him, but which it would seem must be taken cum (jrano 

 solo. He writes: "A common box terrajun is used for the purpose, 

 being driven into the gopher's hole, from which he is speedily driven 

 out; but, in the eagerness of pursuit, the gopher frequentl^^ follows him 

 so far above ground as to be cut off from his retreat and captured by 

 the waiting hunter."* 



Habits of Agassiz's and Beelandiee's tortoises. — Eegarding 

 the habits of Agassiz's and Berlandier's tortoises, but little has been 

 recorded. The following notes by Mr. E. T. Cox are of recent date and 

 point to a similarity of habits, except in the last particulars, between 

 the eastern and western gophers. Speaking of Xerobates Agassizii, he 

 says: "He is a vegetarian, feeding, as I am told, on cacti. His flesh is 

 highly esteemed as food by the Indians and Mexicans. You will per- 

 ceive that his mandibles are notched or toothed. His legs are covered 

 with bony scales, and his front toe nails are made long and strong 

 for digging amongst the rocks, while the hind feet are round like an 

 elephant's. * * * 



"In preparing the specimen, I found on each side, between the flesh 

 and carapax, a large membranous sack filled with clear water ; I judged 

 that about a pint run out, though the animal had been some days in 

 captivity and without water before coming into my possession.t Here 

 then is the secret of his living in such a dry region ; he carries his sup- 

 ply of water in two tanks. The thirsty traveler, falling in with one of 

 these tortoises and aware of this fact, need have no fear of dying of im- 

 mediate want of water."! 



I consider it doubtful whether Berlandier's tortoise digs burrows. The 

 form of the legs is such that excavation by their aid would be a very 

 tedious process. I have been unable to find any notes relating to its 

 habits, save the single sentence in Berlandier's manuscript: "Elle est 

 herbivore." 



Its eggs, unlike those of the other species, are elliptical. 



III. GEOGEAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



It is somewhat difficult at the present time to work out with exact- 

 itude the geographical distribution of the three Korth American Xero- 

 bates, owing to a "i)lentiful lack" of citations of the exact localities 

 in which specimens have been found. In a general way, however, little 

 difificulty is encountered. 



Distribution of the Gopher. — The National Museum has s])eQi- 

 mens of X. polyphemus from Saint Simon's Island, Ga. (7551)5 Nashville, 



* Wailes, Geology of Mississippi. 



t Regarding this matter I may have somewhat to say at a later date. — F. "W. T. 



tAmer. Nat., xv, 1881, p. 1003. 



