54. GOPHERUS 



Distribution. — The Desert Tortoise was first described 

 from the mountains of California near Fort Mojave. Its 

 range is restricted to the desert areas of southeastern Cali- 

 fornia, southern Nevada, and Arizona. 



In California, it has been found in Kern (one-half mile 

 east of IVIohave), Los Angeles (three miles south of Palm- 

 dale), San Bernardino (Salado Valley, Leach Point Valley, 

 between Daggett and Pilot Knob, Crater Summit, Victorville, 

 • Needles, Kramer, Barstow, Ludlow), Riverside (Cotton- 

 wood Mountains), and Imperial (Fort Yuma), counties. 



Nevada records are Pahrump Valley and the Bend of the 

 Colorado River. 



We have received one of these tortoises from Utah, 

 where it was taken on the mesas south of the Shivwits Indian 

 Reservation, about 1 4 miles west of Saint George, Washing- 

 ton County. 



In Arizona, it has been secured near Yuma and Ehren- 

 burg, Yuma County; Phoenix, Maricopa County j near Tuc- 

 son, and in the Santa Catalina Mountains, in Pima County; 

 and near Fort Grant, Graham County. 



It has been taken on Tiburon Island, and at San Pedro 

 Bay, Sonora. 



Habits. — Almost nothing is known of the habits of this 

 turtle if we except the following note by Mr. E. T. Cox:* 



"This fellow is found on the basaltic mountains in the 

 most arid parts of this dry country. 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 perceive 

 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. 



•Cox, Am. Nat. ,XV, 1 88 1, p. 1003. 



