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Gopher \Go"pher\, n. [F. gaufre waffle, honeycomb. See
{Gauffer}.] (Zo["o]l.)
1. One of several North American burrowing rodents of the
genera {Geomys} and {Thomomys}, of the family
{Geomyid[ae]}; -- called also {pocket gopher} and {pouched
rat}. See {Pocket gopher}, and {Tucan}.

Note: The name was originally given by French settlers to
many burrowing rodents, from their honeycombing the
earth.

2. One of several western American species of the genus
{Spermophilus}, of the family {Sciurid[ae]}; as, the gray
gopher ({Spermophilus Franklini}) and the striped gopher
({S. tridecemlineatus}); -- called also {striped prairie
squirrel}, {leopard marmot}, and {leopard spermophile}.
See {Spermophile}.

3. A large land tortoise ({Testudo Carilina}) of the Southern
United States, which makes extensive burrows.

4. A large burrowing snake ({Spilotes Couperi}) of the
Southern United States.

{Gopher drift} (Mining), an irregular prospecting drift,
following or seeking the ore without regard to regular
grade or section. --Raymond.

Prairie \Prai"rie\, n. [F., an extensive meadow, OF. praerie,
LL. prataria, fr. L. pratum a meadow.]
1. An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of
trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually
characterized by a deep, fertile soil. They abound
throughout the Mississippi valley, between the Alleghanies
and the Rocky mountains.

From the forests and the prairies,
From the great lakes of the northland. --Longfellow.

2. A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called
natural meadow.

{Prairie chicken} (Zo["o]l.), any American grouse of the
genus {Tympanuchus}, especially {Tympanuchus Americanus}
(formerly {Tympanuchus cupido}), which inhabits the
prairies of the central United States. Applied also to the
sharp-tailed grouse.

{Prairie clover} (Bot.), any plant of the leguminous genus
{Petalostemon}, having small rosy or white flowers in
dense terminal heads or spikes. Several species occur in
the prairies of the United States.

{Prairie dock} (Bot.), a coarse composite plant ({Silphium
terebinthaceum}) with large rough leaves and yellow
flowers, found in the Western prairies.

{Prairie dog} (Zo["o]l.), a small American rodent ({Cynomys
Ludovicianus}) allied to the marmots. It inhabits the
plains west of the Mississippi. The prairie dogs burrow in
the ground in large warrens, and have a sharp bark like
that of a dog. Called also {prairie marmot}.

{Prairie grouse}. Same as {Prairie chicken}, above.

{Prairie hare} (Zo["o]l.), a large long-eared Western hare
({Lepus campestris}). See {Jack rabbit}, under 2d {Jack}.


{Prairie hawk}, {Prairie falcon} (Zo["o]l.), a falcon of
Western North America ({Falco Mexicanus}). The upper parts
are brown. The tail has transverse bands of white; the
under parts, longitudinal streaks and spots of brown.

{Prairie hen}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Prairie chicken}, above.


{Prairie itch} (Med.), an affection of the skin attended with
intense itching, which is observed in the Northern and
Western United States; -- also called {swamp itch},
{winter itch}.

{Prairie marmot}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Prairie dog}, above.

{Prairie mole} (Zo["o]l.), a large American mole ({Scalops
argentatus}), native of the Western prairies.

{Prairie pigeon}, {Prairie plover}, or {Prairie snipe}
(Zo["o]l.), the upland plover. See {Plover}, n., 2.

{Prairie rattlesnake} (Zo["o]l.), the massasauga.

{Prairie snake} (Zo["o]l.), a large harmless American snake
({Masticophis flavigularis}). It is pale yellow, tinged
with brown above.

{Prairie squirrel} (Zo["o]l.), any American ground squirrel
of the genus {Spermophilus}, inhabiting prairies; --
called also {gopher}.

{Prairie turnip} (Bot.), the edible turnip-shaped farinaceous
root of a leguminous plant ({Psoralea esculenta}) of the
Upper Missouri region; also, the plant itself. Called also
{pomme blanche}, and {pomme de prairie}.

{Prairie warbler} (Zo["o]l.), a bright-colored American
warbler ({Dendroica discolor}). The back is olive yellow,
with a group of reddish spots in the middle; the under
parts and the parts around the eyes are bright yellow; the
sides of the throat and spots along the sides, black;
three outer tail feathers partly white.

{Prairie wolf}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Coyote}.