228 Hunting Trips on the Prairie 



with teeth like a rat's, and great pouches on the out- 

 side of their jaws whose long, rambling tunnels 

 cover the ground in certain places, though the ani- 

 mals themselves are very rarely seen; and the little 

 striped gophers and gray gophers, entirely different 

 animals, more like ground squirrels. But the prairie- 

 dog is always the main source of danger to the horse- 

 man, as well as of mischief to the cattle-herder. 



Around the prairie-dog towns it is always well 

 to keep a lookout for the smaller carnivora, espe- 

 cially 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 

 passerby, 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 can not be recovered. The cowboys are al- 

 ways practicing 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, 



