TUB PRAIIUE DOO. 



197 



the Prairie Dogs dive into their burrows, and do not emerge again until they hear the shrill 

 whistle \\liic-h tells them that tin- (lunger is past. 



As it is >' wary an animal, it is with dinVulU ajijiMiai -lied or shot, and even when severely 

 wounded i; is not readily secured, owing to its wonderful tenacity of life. A Imllet that 

 would in.Mantly dnp u deer has, coiiipaniti\cl\ . no immediate effect upon the Prairie Dog, 

 which i-. capable of reaching it.s luirrow, even though mortally wounded in such a manner as 

 would cause the instantaneous death of many a larger animal. A tolerably large bullet 

 through the brain seems to be the only certain method of preventing a Prairie Dog from 

 regaining hi- stronghold. The mode l.\ which thi> animal enters the burrow In very comical. 

 It does not creep or run into the entrance, but makes a jump in the air, turning a partial 

 somersault, l!'n i-iiiiu n- Mud i--- :ui.i \\tii-Mn_ tti i;iil MI the mol Indii MII* maniu r, :nid 



v V, 





I'KAIKIK 



disappearing as if by magic. Scarcely has th spectator recover**! from the ludicrous effect of 

 the ma MM -u v re. when the animal begins to poke out his head again, and if not disturbed soon 

 recommences his gambols. 



The burrows of the Prairie Dog are generally made at an angle of forty d- LM---S. and after 

 being sank for some little distance, nm horizontally, or even rise toward* the surface of the 

 earth. It is well known that these bnrrows are not only inhabited by the legitimate owners 

 and excavators, but are shared by the burrowing owl and the rattlesnake. A cent-dim: to jop- 

 ular belief, the three creatures live very harmoniously together : but can-fill observations have 

 shown that the snake and the owl an- interlopers, living in the burrows because the jwor 

 oun.-r- ..-! mi..! MI i-ii th.-m out. and tin. I in. :i u MM^ -iil.-i-r. --i. . .;i t !,.- fOO|| Puilfa !''--. \ 

 rattlesnake has been killed near a burrow, and when the reptile was dissected, a Prairie Dog 

 was found in its stomach. 



Although it does not endure a domesticated life as well as many of the rodents, it is pos- 

 sessed of very irreat affection and courage, as is seen fnmi the following anecdote. A hunter 

 was engai^-d in shooting Prairie Dogs, and had succmled in killing one animal, which was 

 seat.-d ujNiii the little hillock in fnmt of its burrow. A oomjKinion. which had not hitherto 

 dared to expose itself to the hunter's tire, immediately issiu-d fn>rn the same burrow, and 

 seizing the body of its friend, dragged it into the hole. The hunter was so touched with this 



