THE PRAIRIE DOG. 43 



degrees with the horizon, and after descending for five or six feet, 

 they take a sudden turn, and rise gradually upward. 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 "villages," 

 as the assemblages of burrows are called, is most curious, and 

 well repays the trouble of approaching without alarming the cau- 

 tious little animals. Fortunately for the traveler, 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 

 survey a wide extent of horizon, and as soon as it sees an in- 

 truder, it gives a sharp yelp of alarm, and dives into its burrow, 

 its little feet knocking together with a ludicrous flourish as it dis- 

 appears. In all directions 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 marvelously 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 produfce instantaneous death. 



The Prairie Dog has not the privilege of possessing a home ex- 

 clusively devoted to its own use, for the Burrowing Owl, some- 

 times called the Coquimbo Owl {Athene cunicularia), and the ter- 

 rible rattlesnake, take forcible possession of the burrows, and 

 devour the inmates, thus procuring board and lodging at very 

 easy rates. The rattlesnake at all 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 incongru- 

 ous beings associated together in perfect harmony, forming in 

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

 ruthless scalpel of the naturalist, however, effectually dissipated 

 all such romantic notions, and proved that the snake was by no 



