142 CALIFORNIA MAMMALS. 



shell with no sign of the run beneath until the shell is picked 

 up or rolled' over, and no mound within several feet. 



The strong incisor teeth are apparently used in hard soil in 

 loosening the earth, but most O'f the digging is done with the 

 fore feet. When sufficient soil is loosened and thrown behind 

 it the Gopher turns around, brings the wrists together beneath 

 the chin with the palms in front and the claws outward be- 

 hind the pile of loosened earth and pushes the pile before it, 

 using the hind feet only in propulsion. The animal can push 

 a much larger amount before it than it could carry in its pockets. 

 On reaching the surface a flip of the fore feet throws the earth 

 a little distance, the action appearing as if the earth was thrown 

 out of the pockets with the fore feet. 



Sometimes the Pocket-Gopher? run backward instead of 

 turning around in the run, especially if the run happens to 

 be in hard earth and narrow. Dr. Merriam kept a live Gopher 

 in captivity to study its habits, and found that it could run 

 backward easily, and nearly as rapidly as forward. The nearly 

 naked tail is used as a feeler, and is quite sensitive as an organ of 

 touch. The hearing appears to be fairly good, but the sight 

 is poor. Smell is probably the principal sense in locating food. 



Pocket-Gophers are sharp tempered animals and \'ery cour- 

 ageous. They do not hesitate to attack anything that inter- 

 feres with them, and the bite of a trapped Gopber is sufficientlv 

 severe to be dreaded. From the circumstance of their living 

 alone one may surmise that they are surly and quarrelsome. 



Pocket-Gophers are a serious pest to the farmer and fruit 

 grower. Having had considerable experience in trapping them 

 I may be able to give some useful hints to those who- may wish 

 to try to get rid of them. Poison is not as useful in the case 

 of Gophers as it is with some other pests, as it is likely to be 

 pushed out of the ran instead of being eaten. Poisoned grain 

 can be used, or a little crushed strychnine in a raisin or a bit 

 of apple or potato. If any of these be used place it in the main 

 run after clearing out all lumps of dirt and close the run thor- 



