PRAIRIE DOG or MARMOT 



Cynomys ludomcianus. 



Extending for miles along the plains east of the Rockies and 

 also found to the west in Utah and Colorado are the thickly popula- 

 ted villages of these odd creatures. Each settlement forms a unit in 

 itself under the guardianship of some one wise old dog, whose short 

 sharp yelp of warning is responsible for the otherwise 'inappropriate 

 name. He has general oversight over the hundreds of inhabitants, 

 whose fifteen or sixteen inches in length, including the three-inch tait, 

 might easily escape notice by their close resemblance in color to the 

 reddish brown soil, were it not for their great numbers in certain 

 localities, and standing so conspicuous upon the mounds of earth at 

 the opening of their burrows. 



Peculiarly active specimens of the burrowing order and quite 



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