46 PRAIRIE-DOG TOWNS. 



The stream upon which we are encamped, like the other branches of 

 Red river, takes its rise in the borders of this plain, and for several miles 

 from its source there are numerous branches issuing from deep canons, 

 with perpendicular sides, which continue until they debouch into the 

 more rolling country below, where the banks become low, and the bed 

 broad and sandy. 



The geological features of the country upon the head of this branch 

 are characterized by a different formation from that upon the other 

 branches we have seen, inasmuch as we here find the gypsum extending 

 to the very sources, and the water having the peculiar taste imparted by 

 that mineral throughout its entire course. 



Our road during the whole day has passed through a continuous dog- 

 town, (Spermojphilus ludovicianus,) and we were often obliged to turn 

 out of our course to avoid the little mounds around their burrows. 



In passing along through these villages the little animals are seen in 

 countless numbers sitting upright at the mouths of their domicils, pre- 

 senting much the appearance of stumps of small trees ; and so inces- 

 sant is the clatter of their barking, that it requires but little effort of the 

 imagination to fancy oneself surrounded by the busy hum of a city. 



The immense number of animals in some of these towns, or warrens, 

 may be conjectured from the large space which they sometimes cover. 

 The one at this place is about twenty-five miles in the direction through 

 which we have passed it. Supposing its dimensions in other directions 

 to be the same, it would embrace an area of six hundred and twenty-five 

 square miles, or eight hundred and ninety-six thousand acres. Estimating 

 the holes to be at the usual distances of about twenty yards apart, and 

 each burrow occupied by a family of four or five dogs, I fancy that the 

 aggregate population would be greater than any other city in the 

 universe* 



This interesting and gregarious little specimen of the mammalia of 

 our country, which is found assembled in such vast communities, is 

 indigenous to the most of our far western prairies, from Mexico to the 

 northern limits of the United States, and has often been described by 

 travellers who have been upon the plains. But as there are some facts 

 in relation to their habits which I have never seen mentioned in any 

 published account of them, I trust I sball be pardoned if I add a few re- 

 marks to what has already been said. In the selection of a site or posi- 

 tion for their towns they appear to have a regard to their food, which is 

 a species of short wiry grass, growing upon the elevated plains, where 

 there is often no water near. I have sometimes seen their towns upon 



