Prairie Dog 



Prairie Dog 



Cynomys ludovicianus (Ord) 

 Called also Marmot. 



Length. 15 inches. 



Description. Resembles the spermophiles but the ears are very short, 



and the tail very short and flat, colour brownish above varied with 



gray and black hairs, soiled white below, tail black toward the end. 



(Illustrations facing pp. 156 and 168.) 

 Range. Western Texas and Kansas to the base of the Rocky 



Mountains north to Montana. Allied varieties occur in Arizona, 



New Mexico and Wyoming. 



The prairie dog is perhaps the most characteristic animal of 

 the higher drier prairies of the West. He reminds one of a 

 miniature woodchuck, though much more gregarious and more 

 active. Prairie Dogs associate in colonies or "dog towns." some- 

 times many miles in extent, where their burrows and mounds of ex- 

 cavated earth form a conspicuous feature of the landscape. Speaking 

 of the occurrence of the prairie dog in Texas Dr. Kennerly says : 

 "This interesting little animal never fails to attract the attention 

 of every traveller on the Western prairies; and on approach to 

 one of their settlements, after long and dreary marches, is always 

 hailed with delight as a pleasant change from the monotony of 

 lifeless scenes to one of cheerful activity and motion. Such 

 occasions never fail to excite a certain degree of pleasure in 

 every one as he watches the motions of these curious creatures 

 as they at first assemble in numbers as if in grave consultation 

 in regard to the intrusion of strangers upon their quiet 

 domain, and, upon the too near approach of apparent danger, 

 suddenly the assembly is dispersed, each one, retiring to his re- 

 spective home and standing upon the edge of his den, utters his 

 peculiar bark, as if in defiance, and then every one disappears sud- 

 denly and every voice is hushed when a single gun is dis- 

 charged." 



Prairie dogs feed upon grass and such other plants as furnish 

 satisfactory fodder, and frequently strip the ground bare through- 

 out the extent of their towns. 



In all the older accounts of the prairie dog we inevitably 

 find associated with him the rattlesnake and the burrowing owl 

 the three forming the theme for many a "Happy Family" story. 



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