A species of land-turtle.
1791. The dens, or caverns, dug in the sand-hills, by the great land-tortoise, called here Gopher, present a singular appearance: these vast caves are their castles and diurnal retreats, from whence they issue forth in the night, in search of prey.—W. Bartram, ‘Carolina,’ p. 18. (N.E.D.)
1812. This name is also given to a species of terrapin.—H. M. Brackenridge, ‘Views of Louisiana,’ p. 58 n. (1814).
1827. The Gopher is a very peculiar animal. It delights in black jack ridges, which are easily penetrated with its burrows. They are easily caught, by digging pits at the mouth of their holes, into which, if they fall, they remain prisoners. Soups and gumboes, made of their flesh, are much esteemed. They are a harmless animal, of the turtle species.—John L. Williams, ‘View of West Florida,’ p. 27 (Phila.).
1836. A huge land-turtle, called a ‘gopher,’ once well nigh killed me—not by biting me, but by my biting him.—Knick. Mag., viii. 277 (Sept.).
1840. The fish, the gofer, the turkey, and the deer, which [the Indians] know where to find, and how to kill, are their meat.—Mr. Duncan of Ohio, House of Rope., March 26: Cong. Globe, p. 278, App.
1841. There is an animal called a “gopher,” of the terrapin tribe, with a shovel in the fore part of his shell, with which he digs deep in the sandy lands of the South, and hides himself from his enemies.—Mr. Hubbard of Alabama, H. of R.: id., p. 395, App.
