142 PRAIRIE-DOGS. 



while others stand for a few moments on tufts of grass, stones, 

 or logs, and then plunge over, one after the other, into the 

 water. At the same time others are feeding on the grassy 

 bank, dragging off the roots of various kinds of plants, or 

 digging underneath the edge. These animals seem to form a 

 little community of social playful creatures, who only require 

 to be unmolested in order to be happy." 



It has been proposed to acclimatize these little rodents in 

 England, under the idea that thus a valuable addition to the 

 bank fauna of sluggish English streams would be obtained. 



PRAIRIE-DOGS. 



Vast cities, with regularly laid streets, are often met with 

 in extensive level spots on the prairie. The inhabitants are, 

 however, not men, but creatures the size of a guinea-pig — 

 rodents — a species of marmot. In their habit of associ- 

 ating together in communities, they put us in mind of the 

 industrious beaver ; but they are idle little fellows, evidently 

 liking play better than work. Their heads are not unlike 

 those of young terrier-pups, and their bodies are of a light 

 brown colour. They have little stumpy tails, which, when 

 excited, they constantly jerk up and twist about in a curious 

 fashion. Their habitations are regular cones raised two or 

 three feet above the gi'ound, with a hole in the apex, which 

 is vertical for the depth of two or three feet, and then descends 

 obliquely into the interior. From the peculiar yelp or short 

 squeaky bark which they give, the hunters call them prairie- 

 dogs. 



In each separate community, which consists of many thou- 

 sand individuals, there is a president dog, who seems to have 

 especial charge of the rest. As a stranger approaches, the 



