RABBITS AND POCKET GOPHERS 325 



sensitive that it is used as an organ of touch, when the 

 gopher runs backward through the burrows — a habit 

 that saves much trouble in turning round. Among the 

 most notable points of structure are the remarkable cheek 

 pouches that open externally. 



As these gophers make their horizontal burrows, they 

 get rid of the soil by making holes to the surface every few 

 feet through which the loose earth is pushed out to form a 

 Uttle mound. The hole to the mound is finally filled up 

 and another made farther along. In meadows and fields 

 of forage crops these mounds sometimes make it neces- 

 sary to run the mowing machines several inches above the 

 surface of the soil, thereby preventing the harvesting of 

 much of the crop. This is one of the most troublesome 

 effects of the work of gophers. 



The Pocket Gophers work so constantly underground 

 that they have comparatively few natural enemies. They 

 come to the surface oftener by night than by day, so that 

 the owls catch more than the hawks. Other enemies are 

 weasels, and bull or gopher snakes. Each of these enter 

 the burrows and follow along tUl they find their victims. 



Fortunately, the Gophers can be rather easily killed by 

 the use of poisons without much danger to other animals. 

 By punching a hole down to the burrow, with an old spade 

 handle having a pointed metallic tip, one can make an 

 opening through which small pellets of poisoned food can 

 be inserted in the main runways, where there will be little 

 danger of their being eaten by other animals. Such pellets 

 should net be placed near the mouth of a burrow, because 

 of the danger of its being exposed where some other ani- 

 mal might get it. Strychnine is the poison most commonly 

 used, and the prepared poison pellets are on sale in many 

 drug stores. Great care is, of course, necessary in han- 



