1 62 THE JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY. 



number of The ATnerican Geologist, and Mr. Frank Leverett, in 

 the March number of that journal, dwells at some length upon 

 this subject. In response to an inquiry, I received the following 

 note from Dr. C. Hart Merriam, the naturalist, on the burrowing 

 of native animals : 



" In reply to your inquiry respecting the depth to which our 

 burrowing mammals penetrate, I regret to say that precise infor- 

 mation on the subject is somewhat meager. A number of species, 

 such as our woodchucks or marmots, skunks, foxes, coyotes, 

 badgers and prairie dogs live in burrows of greater or less depth 

 .which they construct for themselves. In a few instances these 

 burrows are known to extend to a depth of eight feet or more. 

 One of the gophers is said to dig a spiral well fifteen feet deep. 

 Badgers and prairie dogs are notorious diggers, making vast 

 numbers of holes and bringing up immense quantities of material 

 from unknown depths. Their burrows, moreover, are usually 

 very steep, so that a stone or other object falling into one would 

 descend to a considerable distance before being intercepted. 

 Badgers and coyotes make very large holes, though small in 

 comparison with those of the large wolf, which was formerly 

 abundant throughout the Mississippi Valley ; the burrows of the 

 latter animal are of sufficient size to readily admit the body of a 

 small boy." 



The Loveland specimen was recovered at a great depth 

 beneath the surface but we are bound to raise the queries. Is it an 

 implement? Was it in place ; and what is the meaning of the dark 

 soil found on its surface? Of the Newcomerstown specimen it 

 may be said that the collector had little knowledge of the nature 

 of the gravels and of the treacherous character of talus deposits, 

 or of the importance or peculiar bearing of the find. There is, 

 therefore, a most serious possibility of error. There is a decided 

 chance that errors of observation may have crept in in all the 

 cases. 



And what is the story of the specimens themselves? The 

 Madisonville object is to all appearances an ordinary- reject of 

 the flint-blade maker. It can be practically duplicated upon 



