42 The Sewellel or Show tl. | January, 
hole, being the refuse of the gathering. I have known it to take 
possession of a field seeded down to red clover, forming numerous 
burrows, and seeming delighted to feed upon this herbage. Its 
strong and sharp teeth seem eminently adapted to cutting off 
sticks, as in the beaver, although I have observed none more 
than one-fourth to one-half an inch in diameter, cut off by 
them. Ferns, sallal and hazel form a large part of its food, which 
it masticates very fine, as ay be seen by inspecting the contents 
of its stomach. 
In general form and color, the show’tl has much the appearance 
of a huge meadow mole, thirteen to fourteen inches in length 
from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail, of a reddish color, 
and weighing three to three and a-half pounds. The males are 
larger than the females. The tail is short and almost hidden by 
the long hairs surrounding it. The eyes are small, and apparently 
but little use is made of them while passing through the bur- 
rows. Their whiskers are long and strong, extending laterally 
beyond their bodies. They have also bristles springing from 
their fore legs outwardly; these answer in a great measure the 
use of eyes by touching the walls of their burrows and thus direct- 
ing their course in the dark. 
Its fur is similar to that of the musk-rat, and but for the tail 
might easily be taken for the skins of that animal. It has no 
scent or musk that I can appreciate. I consider the flesh good _ 
eating, although it is not generally so esteemed by the people. 
The Indians eat them, and formerly made great use of them as 
food. Since the disappearance of the Indians from large sections 
of the country I think the show’tl is increasing in numbers. Itis 
nocturnal in its habits, doing most of its excavating, feeding and 
moving about during the night. It is occasionally, however, seen 
above ground in the day time; when so seen it is extremely shy 
and wary, and will never be caught far fromitshole. They move 
about considerably during the day time, as is evinced by being 
frequently caught in steel traps. They are pugnacious fellows, : 
and will seize the nose of a dog, inflicting a severe bite. Enemies 
a they have, no doubt, as minks have been caught in their burrows ‘ 
on the uplands, and wildcats, fishers, and other rapacious animals 
abound in their neighborhood. i 
I have found them associated with the digger squirrel (Sper- 
~ mophilus beecheyi), with which they seemed to be on friendly terms To 
indeed, the appearance and plan of the burrows of these two ani- i 
