PRAIRIE POCKET-GOPHERS 



cross his path, even man, in the most ferocious 

 manner and often without the least provoca- 

 tion. He will fight, striking and inflicting deep 

 wounds with his long, sharp teeth, until either 

 he kills or is killed. 



These savage little hermits have stout, com- 

 pact bodies covered with thick, soft, silky fur 

 of a beautiful rich brown color, which takes on 

 a reddish or purplish reflection when exposed 

 to the sunshine. The feet and lower lip are 

 covered with pure white hair. The tail is also 

 white. The hairs are very fine and lay so 

 closely and smoothly together that they repel 

 the dirt, leaving the coat of the animal, who 

 always seeks darkness and grovels in the dirt, 

 clean, bright and glossy. The head is broad 

 and flat, with small ears and little, expressionless 

 eyes. The fore-feet have long, sharp claws, 

 with stiff bristles growing out between the fin- 

 gers to prevent the dirt from slipping through 

 as the animal digs the many chambers in his 

 underground mansion. These prairie pocket- 

 gophers are neither graceful, intelligent nor 

 amiable animals ; but what can be expected of a 

 creature who has lived in solitude and darkness 



[211] 



