THE GRAY GOPHERS 115 
his life is passed underground, except when for 
an instant he emerges into the air to push a 
load of earth from a freshly opened hole. Ex- 
cept for one month of the year, the mating sea- 
son, all pocket-gophers live an entirely solitary 
life; and like most other hermits, they are of an 
extremely surly disposition. They will fight 
viciously on all occasions, and they have for- 
midable weapons. 
In tunneling in the earth, they use their long 
and powerful front teeth as a pick to loosen the 
ground. At the same time the forefeet, which 
are armed with long curved claws,—the sides 
of the toes being lined in turn with bristles 
which prevent the dirt from passing between 
them,—are hard at work both in digging and 
in pressing the dirt back under the body. 
There the hind feet take it and push it farther 
back. 
When earth enough has been accumulated be- 
hind the gopher, he whirls about, and by bring- 
ing his wrists together under the chin, with the 
palms of the hands held vertically, he pushes 
the earth out in front. He will move backward 
as rapidly as forward, and can push dirt either 
