24 HOMES WITHOUT HAOT)S. 



Thousands upon thousands of these burrows are dug in close 

 proximity to each other, and honeycomb the ground to such an 

 extent that it is rendered quite unsafe for horses. 



The scene presented by one of these "dog towns" or "vil- 

 lages," as the assemblages of burrows are called, is most curious, 

 and well repays the trouble of approaching without alarming 

 the cautious little animals. Fortunately for the traveller, the 

 Prairie Dog is as inquisitive as it is wary, and the indulgence of 

 its curiosity often costs the little creature its life. Perched on 

 the hillocks which have already been mentioned, the Prairie 

 Dog is able to stirvey a wide extent of horizon, and as soon 

 as it sees an intruder, it gives a sharp yelp of alarm, and 

 dives into its burrow, its little feet knocking together with a 

 ludicrous flourish as it disappears. In every direction a similar 

 scene is enacted. Warned by the well-known cry, all the 

 Prairie Dogs within reach repeat the call, and leap into their 

 burrows. Their curiosity, however, is irrepressible, and scarcely 

 have their feet vanished from sight, than their heads are seen 

 cautiously protruded from the burrow, and their inquisitive 

 brown eyes sparkle as they examine the cause of the disturbance. 



A good marksman will take advantage of this peculiarity, and, 

 by aiming at the eye, will make sure of killing the animal on the 

 spot. It is marvellously tenacious of life, and unless its head be 

 almost knocked to pieces, is sure to escape into its home. A 

 pea-rifle is almost useless in shooting Prairie Dogs, a large bullet 

 being needed to produce instantaneous death. 



The Prairie Dog has not the privilege of possessing a home 

 exclusively devoted to its own use, for the Burrowing Owl, 

 sometimes called the Coquimbo Owl {At?„ene cunicularia), and 

 the terrible rattlesnake, take forcible possession of the burrows, 

 and devour the inmates, thus procuring board and lodging at 

 very easy rates. The rattlesnake at aU events does so, the 

 bodies of young Prairie Dogs having been found in its stomach. 



On the discovery of owls and rattlesnakes within the burrows 

 of the Prairie Dog, it was generally thought that these incon- 

 gruous beings associated together in perfect harmony, forming 

 in fact a " Happy Family " below the surface of the ground. 

 ITie ruthless scalpel of the naturalist, however, effectually dissi- 

 pated all such romantic notions, and proved that the snake waa 

 by no mean.s a welcome guest, but an intruder on the premises, 



