THE GRAY GOPHERS 115 



his life is passed underground, except when for 

 an instant he emerges into the air to push a 

 load of earth from a freshly opened hole. Ex- 

 cept for one month of the year, the mating sea- 

 son, all pocket-gophers live an entirely solitary 

 life ; and like most other hermits, they are of an 

 extremely surly disposition. They will fight 

 viciously on all occasions, and they have for- 

 midable weapons. 



In tunneling in the earth, they use their long 

 and powerful front teeth as a pick to loosen the 

 ground. At the same time the forefeet, which 

 are armed with long curved claws, the sides 

 of the toes being lined in turn with bristles 

 which prevent the dirt from passing between 

 them, are hard at work both in digging and 

 in pressing the dirt back under the body. 

 There the hind feet take it and push it farther 

 back. 



When earth enough has been accumulated be- 

 hind the gopher, he whirls about, and by bring- 

 ing his wrists together under the chin, with the 

 palms of the hands held vertically, he pushes 

 the earth out in front. He will move backward 

 as rapidly as forward, and can push dirt either 



