288 



PRAIRIE COMMUNITIES 



in April and are fed on disgorged food by the mother. The food con- 

 sists of ground squirrels, mice, rabbits, frogs, birds, and grasshoppers. 



The badger (Taxidea taxus Schr.), according to Thompson-Seton, 

 digs a U-shaped burrow with two. openings about 6 ft. deep. It is a 

 very rapid burrower. It is nocturnal, but basks in the sun at the 

 mouth of its burrow and hibernates. Its food consists of mice and 

 ground squirrels. 



The pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius Shaw), according to Thompson- 

 Seton, makes a burrow 3 in. wide. It burrows with its feet and when 



;1 



FIG. 295. The nest and eggs of the prairie chicken. Photo by T. C. Stephens. 



a pile of dirt has been loosened, turns about and forces it to the exterior 

 with its head. The coyote sometimes rears its young in badger holes on 

 the prairies. 



On the ground we find ants (Myrmica rubra scabrinodis) , one thou- 

 sand of which were found by Judd (191) in the stomach of a single night- 

 hawk. Ground beetles are common. Crickets, spiders, and weevils 

 all frequent the ground. Most of the field stratum species hibernate 

 on the ground under the fallen plants. 



The common toad is rarely wanting near water. The garter-snake 

 (Thamnophis radix] has been recorded by Ruthven (156) from such 



