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THE PRAIRIE DOG, OR WISH-TON-WISH. 



The cheek-pouches are rather small, and the incisor teeth are large and protruding from 

 *he mouth. The length of the animal rather exceeds sixteen inches, the tail being a 

 little more than three inches long. The cheek-pouches are about three-quarters of an 

 inch in depth, and are half that measurement in diameter. 



The Prairie Dog is a burrowing animal, and as it is very gregarious in its habits, the 

 spot on which it congregates is literally honeycombed with its tunnels. There is, how- 

 ever, a kind of order observed in the " Dog-towns," as these warrens are popularly called, 

 for the animals always leave certain roads or streets in which no burrows is made. The 

 affairs of the community seem to be regulated by a single leader, called the Big Dog, who 

 sits before the entrance of his burrow, and issues his orders from thence to the com- 

 munity. In front of every burrow a small heap of earth is raised, which is made from the 

 excavated soil, and which is generally employed as a seat for the occupant of the burrow. 



PRAIRIE DOG, OR WISH-TON-WISH. Spermophilus Ludovlciaaus. 



As long as no danger is apprehended, the little animals are all in lively motion, sit- 

 ting upon their mounds, or hurrying from one tunnel to another as eagerly as if they 

 were transacting the most important business. Suddenly a sharp yelp is heard, and 

 the peaceful scene is in a moment transformed into a whirl of indistinguishable con- 

 fusion. Quick barks resound on every side, the air is filled with a dust-cloud, in the 

 midst of which is indistinctly seen an intermingled mass of flourishing legs and whisk- 

 ing tails, and in a moment the populous "town " is deserted. Not a "dog" is visible, 

 and the whole spot is apparently untenanted. But in a few minutes a pair of dark 

 eyes are seen gleaming at the entrance of some burrow, a set of glistening teeth next 

 shine through .the dusky recess, and in a few minutes first one and another Prairie Dog 

 issues from his retreat, until the whole community is again in lively action. 



The title of Prairie Dog has been given to this animal on account of the sharp yelp- 

 ing sound which it is in the habit of uttering, and which has some resemblance to the 

 barking of a very small and very peevish lapdog. Every time that it yelps it gives its 

 tail a smart jerk. This peculiar sound is evidently employed as a cry of alarm ; for 

 as soon as it is uttered all the Prairie Dogs dive into their burrows, and do not emerge 

 again until they hear the shrill whistle which tells them that the danger is past. 



