250 MAMMALS UNDERGROUND 



the craters on the moon, in the vacant lot over the fence. 

 The gopher must have some air, so it comes to the surface, 

 gnawing away the earth until it is very thin, then breaks 

 it in so that there is a hole, perhaps not larger than a ten- 

 cent piece ; through this it breathes and watches me. 



Rarely in cities, but in the close proximity to towns, is 

 another earth dweller, the ground squirrel. It makes 

 deep burrows and throws up conspicuous piles and heaps 

 of earth, and spends a large part of its time underground, 

 feeding in the grain fields and very rarely climbing trees, 

 and then only small ones. This squirrel is large, and on 

 a place I once rented at a California seaside resort it was 

 necessary to sit out in front of the house to drive them 

 from the lawn, or they would devour it. I have seen a 

 score on the grass at a time, the band scurrying off as I 

 came out. These animals are prolific, have few enemies 

 except owls, hawks, and coyotes, and none near towns, as 

 there is a prejudice, wholly unfounded, against them as food. 



Even more interesting is the tree rat of California, one 

 of many found over the United States. It builds compli- 

 cated nests in trees or against them, and from this tunnels 

 lead away into the ground, where the wood rat passes part 

 of the time, a much greater part than is generally sup- 

 posed. 



The various armadillos are remarkable diggers, often 

 burrowing so rapidly with their powerful claws that it is 

 almost impossible to hold them. The weasels burrow and 

 live in deep holes in California. The little California 

 jerboa is a digger ; and a long list of animals could be 

 given that affect or love the darkness and spend more or 

 less time beneath the ground. 



