The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-08-13
CONCERNING GOPHERS.
Various Animals to which the Name II
Applied In Different States.


Applied In Different States.
Gopher is the common name OF two
very different American animals, the
one comprising two rodent genera, the
other the large land tortoise of the
Southern States. Where the name
gopher is used for the latter animal,
the rodents are generally called sala-
manders. In Illinois and other West
ern States, the term gopher is also APP
piled to other rodents. whose proper
name is the prairie-squirrol. The rod.
emit gophers. or p0uched rats, are char.
eGGtcrized by large external cheek
pouches, large skull and lower jaw.
short, thick neck, thick and clumsy
body and short legs, with long, stout
claws on the fore feet for aid in bur-
rowing. They are subterranean and
nocturnal animals, rarely seen by day
light, and their color varies with their
age and the season of the year. In
the winter the mature animals are
reddish brown above and ashy
brown beneath. In the warm season
all wear the lcad-colOred fur OF
the young animal. They are mostly
found cast of the Rocky mountains.
are abundant in Missouri, Illinois ana
Iowa, and are also found in Canada
In the region of the Upper Missouri
they are commonly known as mulOes.
The Southern gopher-thero called
salamander-is a distinct species from
that found in the Northern States. 1t
is larger than the other, has fOrefeet
longer than the hinder, hairless tail
and its color lead brown above and ashy
white beneath. This species abounds
in Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
Five other species of this genus
(geomys), differing in certain minor
details. have been found in different
parts OF the Western States, Mexico
and Texas. There are also several
species of gopher of the genus
theomys, which are found principally
on the Pacific coast. The California
gopher Is the largest of these. 1t is of a
reddish chestnut brown above, paler
beneath, with a grayish white tail.
All the varieties OF the genus theOmys
have small heads and fore feet that are
considerably shorter than the hind
ones. The gopher tortoise of the
Southern States belongs to the family
OF testudinina, or land tortoises, which
live entirely on the land, and when
put into the water walk on the bottom.
This variety is about fifteen inches long,
has nearly fiat shell, brownish yell
low in color, with darker brown tints.
The head is short and thick and coz
cred with plates of a black color; the
limbs are dark colored. 1t is found In
Florida, Alabama and Georgia, but
does not appear to go north of the Sa-
vannah river. Like the rodent gophers,
these burrow in the ground. especially
in sandy places. The live in numbers
in the wastes called the pine barrens
and subsist on vegetable food only.
They are very fond of basking in the
sun. though they can not endure its
full summer heat, and they especially
detest rainy weather In winter they
become torpid. The striped prairie
squirrel, which in Iowa, Wisconsin,
and Northern Illinois is
commonly called gopher, belongs tc
the marmot family and the genus
spermophilus. The head and ears
are small, the legs short, the tail is
long and squirrel-like. and the cheek
pouches are well developed. Its color
is dark brown above. with nine stipes
Of this color alternating with eight OF
a yellowish gray, the five central black
stripes having on them yellOwish dots
and spots; the tail and lower body are
brownish yellow. This species i.
found abundantly on the Western prai-
ries, but not often on timber land; il
burrows in the ground. but never
goes far beneath the surface, so that a
few pailfuls Of water will readily
drown out the animals. 1t lives upon
grasses, roots, seeds and insects; is
often very destructive, especially in
newly cultivated fields. Chicago Inter
Ocean.