40 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



This animal is sometimes called the Wish-ton-wish, but it is 

 usually known by the name of Prairie Dog, though it is a rodent 

 and not a carnivorous animal. The reason of its popular name 

 lies in the short yelping sound which it is fond of uttering, and 

 which bears some resemblance to the bark of a young puppy. 

 Even in captivity it utters this short, impatient yelp, which may 

 generally be extorted from the little animal by placing the hand 

 near the cage. Though so gentle and affectionate to its keeper, 

 it dislikes strangers ; and if their fingers approach the bars of its 

 house too closely, it barks at the intruders like an angry squirrel, 

 and scratches smartly at their hands with its sharp and powerful 

 claws. 



It is a prettjr, and rather curious animal, measuring about six- 

 teen inches in total length. Its general shape is round and flat- 

 tish, and the head. is peculiarly fiat, giving to the animal a very 

 remarkable aspect. The fur is grayish-red, with a grizzled effect, 

 produced by the alternate chestnut and gray color of each hair. 

 The disposition of the Prairie Dog is pleasant and sociable, and 

 the little creature is very susceptible of domestication. There 

 are at the present time (July, 1863) two fine specimens of this an- 

 imal in the Zoological Gardens, and both of them are notable for 

 their tameness. The male (called Charley by the keeper), seems 

 remarkably fond of his master, and loves to be taken up and nes- 

 tle in his breast. The female is also a very tame animal, and was 

 a great favorite of its late owner, following him about like a dog, 

 and residing chiefly in his coat pocket. 



In spite of the formidable foes by which it is attacked, and 

 which take up their residence in the very centre of its habita- 

 tions, the Prairie Dog is an exceedingly prolific animal, multiply- 

 ing rapidly, and extending its excavations to vast distances. In- 

 deed, when once the Prairie Dogs settle themselves in a conven- 

 ient spot, their increase seems to have no bounds, and the little 

 heaps of earth which stand near the mouth of their burrows ex- 

 tend as far as the eye can reach. 



The burrows are of considerable dimensions, and evidently run 

 to no small depth, as one of them has been known to absorb five 

 barrels of water without being filled. It is not impossible, how- 

 ever, that there might have been a communication with some 

 other burrow, or that the soil might have been loose and porous, 

 and suffered the water to soak through its substance. They are 

 dug in a sloping direction, forming an angle of about forty-five 



