Sappers and Miners 



every duckbill burrow there are two entrances, one above 

 and one below the water-level. The former is always situ- 

 ated beneath a clump of vegetation, so that detection is 

 wellnigh impossible. From below the water the tunnel 

 ascends at a fairly sharp angle, but it winds hither and 

 thither through the soil of the river bank and in all is 

 many feet in length. It terminates in a broad oval 

 chamber, which is well stocked with dried grasses. The 

 young duckbills remain in their underground nursery till 

 they are more than half grown, and it is lucky for them 

 that their parents will tend them so long, for they are 

 helpless little creatures. 



The majority of miners mine for the express purpose of 

 setting up housekeeping below ground. The mole com- 

 bines this peaceful avocation with underground hunting 

 expeditions, for he will tunnel hither and thither in search 

 of succulent worms. The curious little North American 

 pocket-gopher combines domestic affairs with the search 

 for food, but, being a vegetarian, his methods are rather 

 different to those of the mole. This little miner is fond of 

 the roots of plants, and much of his burrowing is con- 

 ducted with the express object of satisfying his craving, 

 which he is enabled to do, as he meets with various roots 

 during his underground travels. 



The four paws of the pocket-gopher are strong, large 

 and armed with formidable claws ; they are, in short, ad- 

 mirable digging tools. The most remarkable fact about 

 the structure of these little creatures is their possession 

 of a roomy, fur-lined pouch on either cheek. We have 

 said that the pocket-gopher mines below ground in search 

 of tree roots ; in doing so he keeps about a foot below the 

 surface. In his wanderings it is only natural that, sooner 

 or later, he will encounter the labyrinth of roots belonging 

 to some tree. This is just the spot he likes for his nest. 



To tunnel downwards beneath this shelter for a depth 

 of five feet or so below the ground-level is the work of a 

 very short space of time for such a powerful sapper. At 



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