. Brehm's Life of animals : a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammals; Animal behavior. 354 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. "Gophers.'' The Chestnut-Cheeked Gopher (Geomys casta- nops) is a small species, about ten inches long, found in Texas and New Mexico. The fur of this species is soft and glossy. [n striking contrast is the harsh, lustreless fur of the Quachil (Geomys kispidus) oi Central America, and the closely allied Mexican Gopher (Geomys mexicgnus) both of which are large species about equal in size to the common Pouched Gopher.
. Brehm's Life of animals : a complete natural history for popular home instruction and for the use of schools. Mammals; Animal behavior. 354 THE RODENTS OR GNAWING ANIMALS. "Gophers.'' The Chestnut-Cheeked Gopher (Geomys casta- nops) is a small species, about ten inches long, found in Texas and New Mexico. The fur of this species is soft and glossy. [n striking contrast is the harsh, lustreless fur of the Quachil (Geomys kispidus) oi Central America, and the closely allied Mexican Gopher (Geomys mexicgnus) both of which are large species about equal in size to the common Pouched Gopher. Belonging to the same sub-family as the Gophers are the animals known as Pocket Rats ( Thomomys), which differ from the Gophers in having smooth-edged incisors, ears slightly more developed, smaller claws, and relatively larger cheek pouches. The common Pocket Rat (Thomomys talpoides) is about eight inches long, the upper part of the fur varying in color from a gray to a brown or reddish hue. The lower por- tion is always of lighter tint and quite often white. From the Mississippi valley west to California from the Gulf of Mexico to Hudson's Bay these Rodents may be found. Like the Go- phers, they are burrowing animals. Other species of Pocket Rats are known, one being the Rocky Mountain Pocket Rat i Thomomys clusius),six inches long, with a tail about one and a quarter inches. O IMMi IN l'> >< KET Rat £be porcupines. NINTH FAMILY: The Porcupines (Hystrichidce) show a much greater development of a defensive coat (its armor being composed of quills) than do other mammals which are simply equipped with bristles. The entire group takes its name from its best known member, and to enable one to recognize any individual, there is not needed a lengthy descrip- tion of the anatomical peculiarities which char- acterize the species. The quills are a common attri- bute of all animals belong- ing to the group, though the different species ex- hibit a great diversity
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectmammals, bookyear1895
