THE PRAIEIB DOG. 23 



lies in the short yelping sound which it is fond of uttering, and 

 which bears some resemblance to the bark of a young puppy. 

 Even in captivity it utters this short, impatient yelp, which may 

 generally be extorted from the little animal by placing the hand 

 near the cage. Though so gentle and affectionate to its keeper, 

 it dislikes strangers ; and if their fingers approach the bars of 

 its house too closely, it barks at the intruders like an angi-y 

 squirrel, and scratches smartly at their hands with its sharp and 

 powerful claws. 



It is a pretty, and rather curious animal, measuring about six- 

 teen inches in total length. Its general shape is round and flat- 

 tish, and the head is peculiarly flat, giving to the animal a very 

 remarkable aspect. The fur is greyish red, with a grizzled effect, 

 produced by the alternate chestnut and grey colour of each hair. 

 The disposition of the Prairie Dog is pleasant and sociable, and 

 the little creature is very susceptible of domestication. There 

 are at the present time (July, 1863) two fine specimens of this 

 animal in the Zoological Gardens, and both of them are notable 

 for their tameness. The male (called Charley by the keeper), 

 seems remarkably fond of his master, and loves to be taken up 

 and nestle in his breast. The female is also a very tame animal, 

 and was a great favourite of its late owner, following him about 

 like a dog, and residing chiefly in his coat pocket. 



In spite of the formidable foes by which it is attacked, and 

 which take up their residence in the very centre of its habita- 

 tions, the Prairie Dog is an exceedingly prolific animal, multi- 

 plying rapidly, and extending its excavations to vast distances. 

 Indeed, when once the Prairie Dogs settle themselves in a con- 

 venient spot, their increase seems to have no bounds, and the 

 little heaps of earth which stand near the mouth of their burrows 

 extend as far as the eye can reach. 



The burrows are of considerable dimensions, and evidently 

 run to no small depth, as one of them has been known to absorb 

 five barrels of water without being filled. It is not impossible, 

 however, that there might have been a communication with 

 some other burrow, or that the soil might have been loose and 

 porous, and suffered the water to soak through its substance. 

 They are dug in a sloping direction, forming an angle of about 

 forty-five degrees with the horizon, and after descending for five 

 or six feet, they take a sudden turn, and rise gradually upwards. 



