The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-05
FOUR FOOTED MINERS.
TimIdity and Skill Displayed by the Gophsr
in Underground Boring.

in Underground Boring.
In Southern California a number #
Interesting miners are found, and Ene
very attractive fellow is n long-t:iled
gray squirrel that constructs the most
astonishing tunnels The most skilled
worker. however. is a gopher. known
to science as the GeomyS Ne1icanus.
Ten or twelve years ago they reigned
supreme in the now fertile valley of
San Gabriel. that lies east of the IA
NOUS city of Los Angeles. From my
window, rs l write, numbers of the
mounds of these miners can be seen,
but they are so remarkably sly and cum
ming that, though | have watched fox
hours. / have only seen one six inches
away from his hole, but as this short
experience was repeated an indefn.t,
number of times, may be said to he
on terms of intimacy with one of the
most timid of all miners.
In appearance the gopher, or pOuched
rat, as il is sometimes called, rcSem-
bles short-tailcd and shOrt-lcgced rat,
with Il large head and rrotruding teeth.
Their checks attract attention, having
the appearance of being pushed out or
stuffed with something. but this is
owing to the fact that our miner has
two very strange receptacles, one on
each side, separate and distinct from
the mouth; little carpct-bagS. we might
call them, each lined with fur, and
large enough to enable me to thrust IN
my thumb to the first joint. Pouches
they are sometimes or often called, and
as TO their use there seems 10 be di-
ycrsity of opinion.
The front claws of this miner are ex-
trcmely large and powerful. and ena-
bles it to construct tunnels with re-
markable 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 floods. Th this is successful
have frequently demonstrated by tirn-
ing a large stream of water into the
mines. 1t would run in without over
flowing for n long time. and | have
never succeeded in forcing one out bv
this means. 1t would naturally be
supposed that such miners would place
their nest at some distant or deep lead
in the nine, 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, takln-
any water that might come in.
1t 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 its mining OPP .ratioms
have been observed it invariably crawls
out, or partly crawls out, Of the mine
or burrow, and. filling its pouches
with sticks and sand, backs quickly in.
its tai! seemingly guiding it 70 the hole
with unfailing regularity, the animal |
never turning but always backing. and |
moving so rapidly that it seems almost
like the curious lizarl that runs one
way rs well rs another. The soil and
material carried in in this way is de-
posted at the entrance of the m ne
and if the animal thinks that danger is
imminent it bites off earth at the
mouth of the burrow. Having done
this for few moments it disappears,
and Il second later the opening closes,
and close examination Showsa quiv-
rr.ny of the earth and repeated
pushing upas if some one was patting
it from below.
In short, the mine has been filled up
from below. and so skiilfully that few
would notice il, But where is the
miner? Not off in some deep lead hum
Ilreds of feet away. but near ut hand in
Il tunnel quite ut the surface that has Il
portfolio about as large as a pea.
Through this ''peep hole" the willy
miner takes observations. and the tun-
mel will not be reopencd for weeks if it
IS watched.-GOLdcAD Days.