THE PRAIRIE DOG MUST GO 31 



These animals are gregarious and, through a dislike of solitude or a 

 esire for protection, live in "prairie dog towns." These towns look not 

 nlike a group of miniature volcanoes, of which the mouth of each burrow 

 losely resembles the crater. The mound of closely packed earth serves two 

 urposes; it prevents water from running into the burrow, and at the same 

 ime furnishes a lookout station for the occupant. As one approaches a town 

 e will observe, while still some distance away, a number of little upright 

 gures, erect and motionless as statues, on top of several of these little 

 lounds. Upon close approach these figures emit a series of sharp cries and, 

 rith a flip of their tails, disappear like a flash. These are the sentinel dogs 

 tationed on the outskirts of the town. As soon as the warning is given, 

 lere follows a rapid scurrying of the other inhabitants and a like disap- 

 earance into the ground. One marvels at the quickness of the whole per- 

 >rmance. When a number of these sentinel dogs are in such a position as 

 3 be silhouetted against the sky, their upright position, warning cry, and 

 apid disappearance remind one of the stationary animal target, the shot, 

 nd the drop of the target familiar in shooting galleries. 



x 



THE HABITS OF THE DOGS 



The prairie dog is herbivorous and roams about at a short distance from 

 le burrow, feeding on grass blades and stems. Their drinking water is 

 lought by some people to be obtained from their burrows, or, in other words, 

 le theory has been repeatedly advanced that these little fellows burrow down 

 > water. This is incredible; Dr. C. Hart Merriam points out that in some 

 ^gions where these animals live the nearest veins of water are 1,000 feet 

 elow the surface. Presumably they can live without drinking, or at least 

 ith no more water than is afforded by the vegetation itself, or by the dews 

 pon it. 



Little is commonly known about the underground plans of their burrows, 

 nee it is almost impossible to unearth them without damage. This has been 

 one, however, notably by Mr. W. H. Osgood of the Biological Survey, and 

 le diagrammatic illustration gives a good idea of the construction. The 

 tound at the entrance is conical in shape, and almost invariably compact 

 i its formation. As the construction of. a new burrow advances, the fresh 

 irth which is excavated is gradually shaped and packed into this hard conical 

 lass by the builders, using their noses as tamping bars and shovels. Packed 

 s it is, it resists erosion by rain and wind. The burrows may be as much 

 3 15 feet deep, though the average depth is nearer 8 or 10 feet. 



The indications are that prairie dogs have but one litter in a season, 

 ith from three to eight young born at a time. This accounts for the spread- 

 ig out of their towns, as new families set up for themselves. 



They are extremely interesting little animals and very "cute.'' even to 

 lose who are familiar with the harm they do. It is true, too, that their 

 ttle "chirp-chirp" lessens the monotony of the prairie to the lone traveler, 

 at these redeeming points are not sufficient to make a balance in their favor, 

 p to prevent urgent efforts for their extermination. 



