94 



THE GNAWERS 



resemble rats, but they have short tails and are entirely 

 subterranean in their habits. They rarely if ever come 

 above the surface, and literally honeycomb the country 

 they inhabit. I know of instances where water poured 

 into a den ran out nearly half a block distant. It is almost 

 impossible to drive them away by this means, and so small 

 traps are employed. Some ranchers keep large numbers 

 of cats which become very skillful in lifting the gophers 

 from the entrances of their dens. The 

 gophers have enormous chcel< 

 pouches which 

 they fill when 

 eating. They 

 will come to 

 the surface, 

 pushing the 

 earth away 

 with their 

 chests and 

 broad paws, 



and if no vegetation is near will sometimes run rapidly a 

 foot or more to some plant. If alarmed, they dart back 

 with the greatest rapidity, tail first, never, at least in my 

 observation, turning around. They form nests near the 

 surface, which they line with grass, and in which the young 

 are born and reared. I have tried to tame the gophers, 

 but found it impossible, the long, chisel-like teeth being 

 employed at the sHghtest opportunity. They are very 

 cunning in their depredations, rarely coming to the surface 

 in an open place in a garden, but preferring some secluded 

 spot. I have seen choice flowers, as carnations, waving 



Fig. 76. — House Rat. 



