Prairie Dog 
Prairie Dog 
Cynomys ludovicianus (Ord) 
Called also Marmot. 
Length. 15 inches. 
Description. Resembles the spermophiles but the ears are ver 
short, and the tail very short and flat, colour brownis 
above varied with gray and black hairs, soiled white below, 
tail black toward the end. 
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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