Miners, Diggers, and Carpenters. 



tity Before putting any into the pouches. As a rule 

 one pouch is filled at a time, though not always, and 

 the hand of the same side was used to push the food 

 in. The usual course is as follows : A piece of potato, 

 root, or other food is seized between the incisor teeth, 

 and immediately transferred to the forepaws. The 

 piece is then rapidly passed across the face with a sort 

 of wiping motion, which forces it into the open mouth 

 of the pouch. Sometimes a single rapid stroke with 

 one hand is sufficient ; at other times both hands are 

 used, particularly if the piece is large. In such cases 

 the long claws of one hand are used to draw down the 

 lower side of the opening, while the food is poked in 

 with the other. The most remarkable thing con- 

 nected with the use of the pouches is the way they are 

 emptied. The forefeet are brought back simultane- 

 ously along the sides of the head until they reach a point 

 opposite the hinder end of the pouches ; they are then 

 pressed firmly against the head and carried rapidly 

 forward. In this way the contents of the pouches 

 are promptly deposited in front of the animal. Some- 

 times several strokes are necessary. I have never seen 

 them emptied in any other way." 



The Prairie Marmot, more often called from its 

 curious yelping cry the Prairie Dog, lives on the great 

 grassy plains or prairies of North America. It is a 

 most sociable creature, delighting to live in large col- 

 onies that may number several hundred individuals ; 

 and really is related to the squirrels, for, save for 

 its yelping cry, there is nothing doglike about it. In 

 some districts where it abounds, one may travel for 

 days together over the flat prairie land, which on all 



