376 U. 8. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT. 



everted pouches,) three claws to the fore feet, six to the hinder ones, and a hairy tail. Subse- 

 sequently, however, Shaw improved upon this description, having obtained the original 

 specimen, although still under the impression that the cheek pouches opened from the inside 

 of the mouth. 



The same skin referred to by Shaw was subsequently investigated by Kuhl, and then by 

 Lich tens rein. It was for a time in the celebrated museum of Mr. Bullock, of London, and is 

 said to have been purchased by Temminck at the sale of this collection, and is doubtless now 

 in the Ley den museum. 



For a long time it was supposed that the pouches in all the American gophers were naturally 

 external and pendulous, with their opening inside the mouth. Even Richardson was of opinion 

 that his Geomya douglassii, and perhaps some other species, were of this character. It is, 

 perhaps, scarcely necessary to say that it is now a well ascertained fact that in all the species 

 these pouches open outside of the mouth. 



The geographical distribution of this species is not yet fully ascertained. It is known to 

 occur throughout Missouri, eastern Kansas and part of Nebraska, western and southern Illinois, 

 Iowa, western Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota. Its extreme northern limit has not been 

 ascertained. 



