The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-08-12
FLORIDA ooPHERs.

FLORIDA GOPHERS.
Some Facts About tho Burrowing Land
Tortoise.
The gopher (Testudo Carolina) of tho
Florida pine barrens is burrowipg
land-tortoise, and not a rodent with
pockets on the outside of it's cheeks like
the western gopher. With the exception
of two or three hours early in the morn
ing, when he comes out to browse upon
plants of any weed that is young and
tender enough, he spends the rest of
his passive life at the bottom of his bur-
row; very likely counting the years of
his great age, and spending economical
ly the vital force which is to keep him
alive for another century or so. 1t
would hardly be expected that this sub
terranean and herbivorous hermit could
be excited to show fight, and yet such is
the case.
l was resting one morning upon a
fallen pine in the haunt of the gopher,
when my attention was attracted by
dull humping sound, coming from
some distance in the wire-grass aud
tiny oak bushes. I thought that some
thing must DE beating tattoo upon the
shell of a gopher, as there is no pebble
or other hard substance in all that sandy
region which would have caused the
sound. Approaching stealthily, I dis
covered two clumsy gopher combatants,
engaged in strange wrestling match
near the entrance of a burrow. The hole
was evidently the home of the largest
turtle, as the entrance of their burrows
are always barely of the dimensions
necessary to admit the proprietor, vary
ing from six inches to foot in width.
That the small gopher, which was about
one-fourth The size of his full-grown
antagonist, was trespasser, and that
the latter was trying to drive him off,
was seen at a glance.
The contest was very spirited, con-
sidering the build of the fighters. Fac
ing each other, they would butt with
the shovel-like projection upon the
front of the plastron or lower she'll.
which ordinarily aids them in burrow-
ing, using this in concert with their
powerful blunt claws. In moments of
great exertion they rose together like
two locomotives colliding "head on" and
the smaller gopher was generally
tumbled over on his back. The big one
would continue to butt him while he
struggled with one forefoot to push
himself towards some bush that would
help him to turn over again.
The neck of the gopher is too short to
turn him over by means of his head
when he is upset, and if left on smooth
place where he cannot push his back
up against some brace he will remain
inverted and die in few hours. The
other fipper of the fallen gladiator
meantime trembled piteously in the air.
and the larger gopher bit at it viciously.
1t was not long before the smaller tor
toise regaincd his equilibrium, aided
often by the assaults of his opponent.
Then, after sull1ing for a moment, he
would enter into the fray again with a
rush that would force his heavier OPP
ponent backwards through the grass
and bushes for nearly yard. The in
cessant thuds and the rustling of the
herbage made an unwonted commoticn
in the unusual quiet of such surround
ings.
This seemingly tireless contention
continued in my presence for over half
an hour. The gophers, in their absorb
ton, took no notice of me as stood mo-
sun was high and hot, and other gophers
had no doubt gone under ground for the
day. At last the large tortoise succeeded
in rushing his enemy several yards
away from the burrow. The latter
then turned and ran, the big fellow pur-
suing and showering blows mercilessly
upon his rear. This ignominy was too
much for the spirit of the invader, and
he made a fresh stand for several min
utes. This occurred several times in
the course of his retreat, but at last he
scuttled away at comical speed, with the
enemy still pursuing. The latter was
not contented until the intruder had
taken himself about IS yards from he
burrow. Having seen him so far, the
victor turned about, and, with good
round gait, made for his hole and went
intoit. Lthen turned my attention to the
retreatirg gopher. and discovered him
again by his rustling progress through
the heritage. In his haste he tried to
climb over log, which in calmer mood
he would have certainly Travelled around.
He fell over on his back and lost ten min
utes trying to turn over again. He then
went around the tree. Before he
reached his mole, some so yards further,
he stopped ever and anon to cut off some
succulent shoot, which slipped into his
mouth easily, cut end first. His break
fast that morning must have been
scanty, but he was anxious to reach
home,-N. Y. Post.