THE PRAIRIE DOG 
~ HIS little cousin of the squirrels makes a pet 
that is entertaining the day long, and is also 
= easily cared for, although it does not like to 
= be handled. The prairie dog, sitting up on 
hi -- his mound, with his hands folded, looks like 
ig a little statue, so still he sits, when he is 
making a reconnaissance of the country round 
about. But this statue soon comes to life, drops on 
all fours and scuttles off to find a straw, which is the 
prairie dog’s equivalent for a cigar. Then he sits up 
again, takes an end of the straw in each hand, bends 
it V-shape, thrusts the angle into his mouth and 
nibbles away with great enjoyment. He is a jolly 
fellow, full of fun, and we become very fond of him 
because of his cheerful disposition. 
The prairie dog’s whole appearance is attractive, 
and at the same time comical. His legs are so short, 
that when he is running along he looks as though he 
were on casters, and his short black-bordered tail, 
seems at first to be a mere afterthought; but further 
observation shows that it is of great use in expressing 
his feelings, for with every fresh emotion of its owner, 
the tail jerks sympathetically. 
The usual bark of a prairie dog is probably meant 
for a chuckle, intended to express entire contentment 
with things in general. However, he makes several 
other interesting sounds that certainly are full of 
meaning to his fellows. For instance, he gives a 
very special kind of a bark when his old enemy, the 
snake, glides into his burrow; as soon as they hear 
this warning bark, all of his neighbors gather around, 
and proceed to fill the hole with earth, packing it 
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