The whole animal has a clumsy aspect, having a large head and body, with short legs, large fore feet, and small hind feet; and although it walks awkwardly, yet it burrows with the greatest rapidity, so that the difficulty of obtaining specimens may be, in a great degree, attributed to the facility with which the animal passes through the soil, in removing from the vicinity of danger.
They cast up mounds of loose earth, which, like those of the blind rat, (Spalax typhlus) have no exterior opening. These elevations have been aptly compared, by Lewis and Clarke, to such heaps of earth as would be formed by the emptying of the loose contents of a flower-pot upon the soil. The mounds are of various dimensions, from the diameter of a few inches only, to that of several yards; the quantity of earth employed consequently varies from a pint to two or three bushels.
So entirely subterranean is the life of this animal, that it is rarely seen; and many persons have lived for many years surrounded by their little edifices, without knowing the singular being by whose labours they are produced.
It is known by the names of sand-rat, goffer, pouched-rat, salamander, &c.—James.
[53] From ψευδω, false, and στομα, a mouth, in allusion to the false mouths or cheek-pouches.
[54] Chesterfield was situated on Bonhomme Creek, one mile from the Missouri River. It was laid out in 1818.—Ed.
[55] Pond Fort was one of a half dozen posts erected by the settlers of St. Charles County during the War of 1812-15, for protection against the Indians. Boone's Fort, built by a son of Daniel Boone, was the largest and strongest of the group. Pond Fort was a short distance southeast of the site of Wentzville.—Ed.
[56] On Dardenne Creek, see preceding volume, note 97.
The Cuivre (Copper) River forms part of the northern boundary of St. Charles County.—Ed.
[57] Views of the Lead Mines, pp. 180, 227.—James.