THE SAND MOLE. 35 



crossed a path, iu which case they dipped to a much lower 

 level. Two of these burrows were opened, but in neither case 

 was the animal captured, as the lateral galleries ran on every 

 side into the fields and woods, so as to aftbrd an easy mode of 

 escape. 



The Canada Pouched Eat is nearly a foot in length, and is 

 notable for the great development of its incisor teeth, which 

 project beyond the lip ; and for the dimensions of its cheek- 

 pouches, which measure about three inches in length, and 

 extend as far as the shoulders. It was formerly thought that 

 the animal employed these pouches for the conveyance of earth 

 out of its burrow, but it is now known that it does not make 

 any such use of those natural pockets. 



Another species belonging to the same genus, the Camas 

 Eat {Fseudostoma horealis), is an indefatigable burrower, making 

 tunnels at a very little distance below the sui'face of the ground, 

 and throwing up hillocks as it passes along. Like the rabbit, it 

 is a partially social animal, living in small communities, and 

 probably drawn together by no personal affection, but by the 

 convenience of the locality. The name of Camas Eat is derived 

 from its food, which consists chiefly of the quamash root {Scilla 

 esculenta). 



One or two other burrowing rodents deserve a passing notice. 

 There is the Slepez, or Mole Eat of Asia {Spalax typhlus), 

 an animal which looks very like a mole, though it belongs to the 

 rodents. It is even less capable of sight than the mole, for its 

 eyes are not only as small as those of that animal, but are actually 

 covered by the thickly-furred skin. The burrow which it makes 

 is very like that of the Gopher, and consists of a series of tun- 

 nels driven through the earth at no great depth from the surface, 

 and from which radiate a vast number of lateral passages. 



The Sand Mole of Southern Africa {Bathyergus maritimus) 

 is another of these shallow burrowers, and by the abundance of 

 its tunnels, and the veiy trifling depth at which they are driven, 

 renders the ground absolutely dangerous to horsemen. It is 

 rather a large animal, nearly equalling our wild rabbit in dimen- 

 sions. The fur of the Sand Mole is remarkable for its woolly 

 texture. 



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