GOOTY

gooty, a town and hill fortress in southern india, in the anantapur district of madras, 48 m. e. of bellary. pop. (1901) 9682. the town is surrounded by a circle of rocky hills, connected by a wall. on the highest of these stands the citadel, 2100 ft. above sea-level and 1000 ft. above the surrounding country. here was the stronghold of morari rao ghorpade, a famous mahratta warrior and ally of the english, who was ultimately starved into surrender by hayder ali in 1775. gopher (_testudo polyphemus_), the only living representative on the north american continent of the genus _testudo_ of the family _testudinidae_ or land tortoises; it occurs in the south-eastern parts of the united states, from florida in the south to the river savannah in the north. its carapace, which is oblong and remarkably compressed, measures from 12-18 in. in extreme length, the shields which cover it being grooved, and of a yellow-brown colour. it is characterized by the shape of the front lobe of the plastron, which is bent upwards and extends beyond the carapace. the gopher abounds chiefly in the forests, but occasionally visits the open plains, where it does great damage, especially to the potato crops, on which it feeds. it is a nocturnal animal, remaining concealed by day in its deep burrow, and coming forth at night to feed. the eggs, five in number, almost round and 1-1/2 in. in diameter, are laid in a separate cavity near the entrance. the flesh of the gopher or mungofa, as it is also called, is considered excellent eating. the name "gopher" is more commonly applied to certain small rodent mammals, particularly the pocket-gopher.