The Irish standard., 1888-01-07
-FOUR FOOTED MINERS.
Timidity and Skill Displayed by the Gopher
in Underground Boring.

Timidity and Skill Displayed by the Gopher
in Underground Boring.
In Southern California a number Of
interesting miners are found, and one
very attractive fellow is long-tai1ed
gray squirrel that constructs the most
astonishing tunnels. The most skilled
worker, however. is a gopher, known
to science as the Geon1ys Me1ican,1s.
Ten or twelve years ago they reigned
supreme in the now fertile valley OF
San Gabriel, that lies east Of the fa-
nous city Of Los Angeles. From my
window, as I write, numbers Of the
mounds Of these miners can be seen,
but they are so remarkably sly and Gun.
ming that, though l have watched for
hours, have only seen one six inches
away from his hole, but as this short
experience was repeated an indefinite
number of times, I may be said to be
on terms of intimacy with one of the
most tirnid Of all miners.
In appearance the gopher, OF pouched
rat, as it is sometimes called, resem-
bles short-tailed and short-legged rat,
with a large head and protruding teeth.
Their cheeks attract attention. having
the appearance Of being pushed out OF
stuffed with something, but this is
owing to the fact that our miner has
two very strange ,receptacles, one on
each side, separate ai1d distinct from
the mouth; little carpet-bogs,: we might
call them, each linea with fur,a and
large enough to enable nae to thrust in
my thumb to the first joint Pouches
they 'aaatfaseSalo etinles oroften called, and
as to their use there seems to be di.
versity of opinion: ,.... :: =.
The front claws of this, miner are ex-
.tremely large and powerful, and ena.
bles it to- construct tunnels with re-
,narkable rapidity. When once be.
meath the surface they construct their
mines in every direction. with no great
regularity, but evidently with the idea
of forming a labyrinth that will carry
off foods. Th this; is successful ]
have frequently demonstrated by turn
ing large stream of water into this
mines. 1t would run in without; over.
flowing for a long time, and L have:
never succeeded in forcing one out by.
this means. 1t would: naturally { be.
supposed that such miners would PLACE.
their nest at SOME distant or deep lead
in the mine, but the. reverse is the rule.
the warm nest Of bits Of weed being
formed. very near the surface. from;
which different mines lead away, taking
any water that might come in. ..<ss -, !:
It might be assumed that the bags
or pouches were used to carry out the
dirt and stones removed; but, curious
ly enough, they use them for exactly
the reverse and for carrying seeds or
food. As soon as gopher makes UP
lis mind that it's mining operations
have been observed itinyariably cr;lwls
out, or partly crawls out, of the. mine
or burrow, and, filing its pouches
with sticks and sand, backs quickly in,
its tail seemingly guiding it TO the hole
with unfailing regularity, the animal
never turning but always backing, and
moving SO rapidly that it seems almost
like the curious lizard that runs one
way as well as another. The soil and
material carried in in this way is de-
posted at the entrance Of the mine
and if. the animal thinks that dangers is
imminent it bites off earth at the
mouth Of the burrow. Having done
this for few moments it disappears
and a second later the opening closes,
and a close examination shows {; quiv-
ering Of the earth and q repeated
pushing up as if some one was patting
it from below.
In short, the mine has been filed up
from below. aud so skillfully that few
would notice it. But where is the
miner? Not off in some deep lead hum
dreds of feet away, but near at hand in
tunnel quite at the surface, that has a
portfolio about as large as q pea.
Through this. ''peep hole':' the willy
miner takes observations, and the tun-
mel will not be reopened for weeks if it
is watched. Golden Days.