GOPHER MOUNDS. 



73 



already gathering into their fall nocks, which some- 

 times number a hundred or more. In these they 

 remain until St. Valentine recommends a separation. 

 During the colder* weather of winter they seek the 

 protection of the timber, and may be seen of morn- 

 ings on the trees and fences. They never roost there,^ 

 however, but pass the night hidden in the adjacent 



grass. 



The prairie-chicken's admirers are numerous, other 

 animals beside man being willing to dine on its plump 

 breast. We had an illustration of this in our first 

 day's shooting. Sometimes when we fired, the report 

 would attract to our vicinity wandering hawks, and 

 we found that either instinct or previous experience 

 teaches these fierce hunters of the air that in the 

 vicinity of their fellow-hunter, man, wounded birds 

 may be found. One wounded chicken, which fell 

 near us, was seized by a hawk immediately. 



As we passed one or two fields, indications of 

 gophers appeared, their small mounds of earth cover- 

 ing the ground. In some counties these animals 

 formerly destroyed crops to such an extent that the 

 celebrated " Gopher Act " was passed. This gave a 

 bounty of two dollars for each scalp, and under it 

 many farms yielded more to the acre than ever before 

 or since. One of these animals which we secured re- 

 sembled in size and shape the Norway rat, and, in the 

 softness and color of its coat, was not unlike a mole. 

 The oddest thing was its earth-pouches— two open 

 sacks, one on either side of its head, and capable of 

 containing each a tablespoonful or more. These the 

 gopher employs, in his subterranean researches, for 



