The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-13
SOMETHING ABOUT GOPHERg,

| SVateS, WHO mas recently maze n tour oil the
South. refers to the fact that the name go
pher" ls IN some sections applied TO a small
animal, and In others TO q turtle. He might
have went still further In his Investigations.
and discovered that the title is also applied
to snake. The name gopher was, accord
ing to standard authority on the subject.
originally bestowed by French settlers upon
many bnrrowing animals from their honey
combin9 the earth. Lii Canada and Illinois
the name WAS given to a gray burrowing
squirrel, west OF the Mississippi and In Wis
conein to a striped squirrel. In Missouri q
common species is pouehed rat Of a reddish
or chestnnt-brown color. with broad. mole
like feet, while In Georgia snake is called
by the same name, and In Florida turtle
The last named. which is particularly alluded
to by the gentleman above mentioned, and
which may be claased as test,tdo poluphe-
mus, is one Of the peculiar institutions
OF the far-famed land OF flowers and has
probably kept starvation away from many q
worthy as we'll "a unworthy mans door. Its
flesh is In many respects similar to that OF
the reptile known In other sections as the
''mud turtle" The gopher Ia. however, rare
ly found In the vicinity of water courses,
seeming to prefer the high aud dry sandy
ridges az a place of abode. Here 1t SCOOPS
out hole In tho earth after the manner OF
tho muskrat ana other burrowing animals,
from which 1t periodically sallies forth In
search OF food, consisting mainly OF the wild
grasses and roots OF the forest The eopher
Ia harmless and inoffensive creature and re-
lies solely on Its shell for protection. When
alarmed 1t draws In its head and legs SO that
the horny exterlors of his fore-tlippers pre-
sent a formidable barrier against the as
saults of his foes. Thus drawn In these
fore feet completely close up the opening
from which tho head and neck are
protruded while In locomotlon, and
were 1t not for the short saw-like tall one
would be considerably puzzled to ascertain
which way 1t was heading when Interrupted.
The gopher Is q neiRhborly creature and. we
are sorry to record by no means particular
In the selection OF Its associates. Thus It's
burrow Is made headquarters by variety OF
reptiles and animals. with whom It seems to
be on terms Of close familiarity. Rattle
snakes, lizards, etc. are Its constant guests,
although one Is likely to infer that 1t shuts It.
self up In It's casemate when the more venom
GUS Of It's visitors are around. The flesh OF the
gopher is greatly relished by the people OF
the country wherein 1t Ia found, and a gen.
uine Cracker will seldom leave home without
having provided himself with sack Ia which
to transport this along with any other
game he may succeed In capturing.
The gopher may frequently be found
wandering about through the pine
forests In search OF food; but the usual
method Of capturing 1t Is to dig hole In the
ground Immediately In front OF its burrow,
In which Is then placed an empty box or bar
rel, and into which the gopher Is unceremo-
nlously preclpitated when he sallies forth.
After capture the next thing In course Ia to
behead 1t, which will be found something OF a
difficult operation to the unintiated. In fact
1t requires very quick and accurate blow to
chop of the head Of q gopher when protruded,
and therefore the usual custom is to split the
shell open while the creature is alive! No
doubt Mr.. Bergh and his associates Ia the s.
P. @. A. would set this down as the cruelest
OF cruelties, but a Cracker" will assure you
that the gopher don't mind 1t bit-in fact
that 1t rather enjoys the sensation of having
It's body hacked to pieces, all OF which may be
true enough, but having never had the pleas
ure OF communication directly with the ghost
OF a defunct gopher one must crave the indul-
Rence Of slight margin for doubts concern
ing the matter.