CHAPTER X. 



THE PRAIRIE DOGS. 



IF ever an inoffensive republic existed in the 

 world, it is certainly that of the American 

 marmots, the so-called prairie dogs. Among 

 them, each individual lives as he pleases, in 

 entire simplicity, without dreaming of evil, without thought 

 of injury to his neighbour, of dispossessing him, or cheat- 

 ing him, or living at his expense. 



There no government exists, and no conspiracies occur. 

 There are neither presidents, nor consuls, nor magistrates, 

 nor militia, nor policemen. What would be the good of 

 them ? If the marmot of the prairies little member as 

 he is of the great family of the Rodents ! be vivacious, 

 headstrong, and sometimes even petulant, he is, on the 

 other hand, a social and sociable animal, who never dis- 



