50 



young dogs, but the stomachs of those dissected were almost invari- 

 ably tilled with grasshoppers, and the debris found about their holes 

 indicated that these and other insects, with a large kind of crawfish, 

 constitute at this season of the year their chief food. That the rattle- 

 snakes prey upon the dogs is sufficiently established by the frequent 

 capture of the snakes with young dogs in their stomachs. I have my- 

 self taken three young dogs from the stomach of a single snake. The 

 entrances to most of the holes in which the snakes were seen were 

 worn smooth by the friction of the snake's body in passing in and 

 out, they apparently appropriating certain holes which they occupy 

 permanently ; but they doubtless enter holes occupied by the dogs. 

 When this occurs the dogs not only immediately abandon the holes, 

 but are said to fill them up, and thus fasten the snake in. It certainly 

 happens that the dogs do thus frequently abandon and solidly fill the 

 entrances to their burrows, as I have myself observed, and I do not 

 doubt that what the old "plainsmen" thus affirm is correct. 



The dogs usually select a level tract for the site of their towns, and 

 seem to a great extent to avoid the ridges and t^e more broken parts 

 of the country. In regard to their habits, or voice, there is little or 

 nothing to suggest the name of "dog," as of course there is nothing 

 in their structure to imply such affinities as the name "Prairie 

 Dog " might be supposed to indicate. They are simply large ground 

 squirrels or marmots, and their voice is quite like the so-called bark- 

 ing of various kinds of Stiurus, varied at times with a shrill whistle, 

 not unlike that of some of the true marmots. We found them gen- 

 erally exceedingly shy, retreating to their holes almost invariably 

 long before the intruder gets within sure rifle range, whether on foot, 

 mounted, or in a wagon. They behaved differently, however, on dif- 

 ferent days and at different localities, sometimes permitting a near 

 approach. They usually scamper to their holes at the first approach 

 of danger, but as soon as they reach them they seem conscious of 

 safety. From the entrance of their burrows they will salute the 

 object of their alarm, at times almost incessantly, with their imperti- 

 nent, squirrel-like bark, either seated upright on their haunches, or 

 stretched at full length across the opening. Their combined air of 

 confidence and impudence is at such times often highly amusing ; and, 

 thus sure of a hasty retreat from danger, they will often allow a 

 person to approach within a few yards of them, but if approached 

 too closely suddenly drop into their holes, from which their subdued, 

 twittering, half-whistling bark can be faintly heard after they have 

 disappeared. Being excessively tenacious of life, they are difficult to 

 procure, because even if mortally wounded they almost invariably 

 fall into their holes. If shot through the head, or through the heart, 

 unless knocked backwards away from their holes (which not often hap- 



