FUR ANIMALS. 463 



Like the latter, it is a strict vegetarian, a ceaseless miner, 

 and a provident commissary; for it is always careful to 

 lay by something for a rainy day. Unlike the prairie-dog, 

 however, it does not seem to care for the sunlight, is as 

 grave as an owl, and seldom resorts to playfulness at least 

 above-ground. Nature seems to have fitted it specially 

 for dwelling in comparative darkness, judging from the 

 smallness of the eyes and the form of the ears ; and that 

 it loves its gloomy abode would be evident by the care it 

 takes to avoid the daylight, for it is rarely ever seen out- 

 side its burrow before the approach of twilight. I have 

 seen it during fine days in March pottering around among 

 its stores, which were spread over the burrows to dry in 

 the sun; but the moment it detected the presence of any 

 unusual object, it immediately darted inside. ttaarro 



In general appearance, the showtl is not unlike a musk- 

 rat, but with this important difference, that the latter flour- 

 ishes a handsome tail, while the former is devoid of it 

 it has at least none worth mentioning ; for the little fleshy 

 protuberance that terminates the spinal column can scarce- 

 ly be called one, the vertebra not being an inch long. A 

 full-grown male averages about fourteen inches in length 

 and six in height; but it looks taller than it actually is, 

 owing to its general hump-backed attitude. The muzzle 

 is large and round ; the head full and well developed ; the 

 ears are short, quite rounded, and covered on both sides 

 with fine, soft hair; the eyes are very small, and of a dark- 

 brown color, and are situated midway between the nose 

 and the ears. The incisor teeth are exceedingly sharp, 

 and well adapted for cutting the roots, bark, and fibrous 

 vegetables on which the animal subsists. Like those of 

 all the rodentia, the longer they are in use the more effi- 

 cient do they become; for Nature has wisely made them 

 of such material that time and work only increase their 

 effectiveness. The legs are short and stout ; the feet broad 

 and strong; and the nails, which are long, thick, and curved, 

 are powerful mining implements. 



I am not acquainted with any animal that can burrow a 



