FILLING THE POCKETS 



pockets, reach back as far as the shoulder, and are used only 

 for carrying food not for carting dirt out of the burrow, as 

 many people believe. It is curious to observe that the 

 pocket-gopher, like the badger, can run backwards almost 

 as readily as forwards ; being both burrowing animals, the 

 peculiarity has probably been acquired on account of its 

 obvious convenience in passing to and fro along narrow 

 tunnels. Referring to a captive pocket-gopher, Dr. Merriam 

 says : " This method of progression was particularly notice- 

 able when the animal was in his own quarters, where he 

 could follow a runway or an accustomed route. When 

 carrying food to one of his storehouses he rarely turned 

 round, but usually ran backwards to the place of deposit, 

 returning for more, and repeating the operation again and 

 again, the to-and-fro movement suggesting a shuttle on its 

 track.*" The animal's manner of eating and filling its 

 pockets was peculiar and interesting, and showed an ability 

 to use the huge fore feet and claws in a way previously un- 

 suspected. "After satisfying the immediate demands of 

 hunger, it was his practice to fill one or both cheek-pouches. 

 His motions were so swift that it was exceedingly difficult 

 to follow them with sufficient exactness to see just how the 

 operation was performed. If a potato was given him, or a 

 piece too large to go into the pouch, he invariably grasped 

 it between the fore paws, and proceeded to pry off a small 

 piece with the large lower incisors. He would then raise 

 himself slightly on his hind legs and hold the fragment 

 between his fore paws while eating, for he usually ate a 

 certain quantity before putting any into the pouches. As 

 a rule one pouch is filled at a time, though not always, 

 and the hand of the same side was used to push the food in. 

 The usual course is as follows : A piece of potato, root, or 

 other food is seized between the incisor teeth, and immediately 



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