524 The American Naturalist. [June, 
But there are other facts militating against this burrow 
theory, among which the following may be mentioned. The 
tangled tubules which so plainly characterize the entire 
surface of Daemonelix often appear diffused in great irregular 
masses, and in broad sheets, in certain places throughout the 
sand rock in Daemonelix beds. 
In the case of those which occur in thin sheets in cracks 
and fissures it is impossible that any animal ever burrowed 
there. Some of this plant structure then is unquestionably 
disconnected entirely from any burrow. What is true then 
of part of this organic structure may possibly be true of the 
whole. 
It is very common indeed to notice offshoots from these 
corkscrews either running as supports from one coil up to the 
next (See Fig. 1) or running out irregularly into the surround- 
ing matrix. These vary from thesize of one millimeter to one 
or more centimeters and have been traced to a length of half 
a meter to a full meter or more. | 
Now it is perfectly apparent that no gopher could possibly 
have constructed these narrow tubes. Granting that he con- 
structed the spiral tube how are we to account for these 
numerous offshoots which could not have been pon aa 
bya gopher. 
If this is in truth the work of a gopher then it must Hoad as 
a lasting monument to the genius of that creature which laid 
the lines of his complex abode with such invariable precision 
‘and constancy. If it were that of any of the lower forms the 
surprise would be less. 
The difficulty alone of digging a spiral with a constant and 
invariable pitch seems entirely beyond the instincts of higher 
animals such as these quick and reasoning creatures. But be- 
sides the constancy and accuracy of pitch of the helix comes 
another element of great complexity, the helix tapers from top 
to bottom with such nicety that this animated instrument of 
precision would have to be sensitive to differences, not exceed- 
ing one millimeter for every 90°, in its course around the axis 
of the spiral. Is such precision to be expected of animals 
endowed with reason ? 
