A Trip on the Prairie. 209 



queer creatures, shaped like moles and having the same 

 subterranean habits, but with teeth like a rat's, and great 

 pouches on the outside of their jaws, whose long, rambling 

 tunnels cover the ground in certain places, though the 

 animals themselves are very rarely seen ; and the little 

 striped gophers and gray gophers, entirely different ani- 

 mals, more like ground squirrels. But the prairie-dog is 

 always the main source of danger to the horseman, as well 

 as of mischief to the cattle-herder. 



Around the prairie-dog towns it is always well to keep 

 a look-out for the smaller carnivora, especially coyotes 

 and badgers, as they are very fond of such neighborhoods, 

 and almost always it is also a favorite resort for the larger 

 kinds of hawks, which are so numerous throughout the 

 cattle country. Rattlesnakes are quite plenty, living in 

 the deserted holes, and the latter are also the homes of the 

 little burrowing owls, which will often be seen standing at 

 the opening, ready to run in as quick as any of the prairie- 

 dogs if danger threatens. They have a funny habit of 

 gravely bowing or posturing at the passer-by, and stand 

 up very erect on their legs. With the exception of this 

 species, owls are rare in the cattle country. 



A prairie-dog is rather a difficult animal to get, as it 

 stands so close to its burrow that a spasmodic kick, even 

 if at the last gasp, sends the body inside, where it cannot 

 be recovered. The cowboys are always practising at them 

 with their revolvers, and as they are pretty good shots, 

 mortally wound a good many, but unless the force of the 

 blow fairly knocks the prairie-dog away from the mouth of 

 the burrow, it almost always manages to escape inside. 



