Allen.] 190 [December !■>, 



seed. During the spring months it is generally numerous, but after 

 about the first of June is rarely observed, and all my efforts to obtain 

 specimens, both in this State and in Illinois, where it is equally com- 

 mon, were ineffectual. The burrows of this species run to the depth 

 of three or four feet, and extend to a considerable distance. 



The Prairie Dog (Cynomijs ludouicianus), so characteristic of the 

 more western prairies, is not met with to the eastward of the Mis- 

 souri river. Dr. Hayden says the first village he met with in as- 

 cending the Missouri was about ten miles below the mouth of the 

 Niobrara. 1 Mr. Cyrus Thomas erroneously includes this animal in 

 his catalogue of the " Mammals of Illinois," published in Vol iv of 

 the Transactions of the Illinois State Agricultural Society. 



37. Arctomys monax Gmelin. (Woodchuck. Marmot.) 

 This animal appears also to be absent from western Iowa. I met 



with but a single individual who had seen it in the State. He had 

 formerly lived in Davis county, in the southeastern part, where he 

 informs me it occurs, as also in the adjoining counties of Missouri. 

 On this authority it is included in the present list. 



38. Castor fiber Linn. (Beaver.) 



Reported to still exist on the South Raccoon river, but nearly or 

 quite exterminated in most of the eastern and southern portions of 

 the State. A gentleman residing in the southern part of Dallas 

 county informed me that when he settled there, eighteen years be- 

 fore, he being one of the first settlers of the county, the beaver was 

 then common there. He said it was now quite exterminated in that 

 vicinity, none having been seen for a considerable period. From the 

 frequent occurrence of creeks in Iowa called by the name of this 

 animal, it seems probable that it was once numerous here. 



39. Geomys bursarius Richardson. (Pouched or Pocket Go- 

 pher.) 



Exceedingly numerous everywhere, and a great pest. The farm- 

 ers regard it as agriculturally the " great curse of the country." In 

 some localities it destroys the fruit trees, the groves planted for shade 

 and the osage-orange hedges, by feeding upon their roots in winter. 

 It seems to be nowhere on the decrease, as from its peculiar habits it 

 is difficult to destroy. As the animal seldom appears above the sur- 

 face of the ground, and only at night, one may reside for years where 

 they are numerous without seeing one. The moist and the dry por- 

 tions of the prairie are alike haunted by them; and the farmer too 



1 Transact. Amer. Phil. Soc M Vol, xn, 2d series, p. 145. 



