434 



RECREA TION. 



We probably all remember the pictures, 

 in our old geographies, of prairie dogs, bur- 

 rowing owls, and rattlesnakes, all dwelling 

 peacefully in the same hole, lying down to- 

 gether, as it were. It became such a fixed 

 idea in our minds that it was readily taken 

 for granted; but when stripped of its ro- 

 mance, we find these creatures on anything 

 but sociable terms. The little owl is around 

 sure enough, but more than likely the hole 

 he inhabits was deserted before he occupied 

 it. You may see a rattlesnake about, also; 

 but you are just as likely to see one any- 

 where else; for the whole country is their 

 habitation. A snake in a dog town is any- 



thing but at home, and if he seeks a hole it 

 is from necessity and not from choice. 



I have never seen any of the alleged gray- 

 haired patriarch dogs doing sentinel duty, 

 while the others fed at leisure. In fact, they 

 all appear to be sentinels, every one for 

 himself; for the way they act on the " self 

 preservation " principle, would lead one to 

 believe they thought their little pelts as 

 valuable as those of the sea otter, and that 

 they objected seriously to allowing any of 

 them to be placed on the market. 



I remember the first dog town I ever vis- 

 ited. I was on the outskirts of Colorado 

 Springs. I came suddenly over a rise of 

 ground to a level mesa, and there, almost 

 at my feet, scampered hundreds of fat, 

 clumsy, prairie dogs, each one making for 

 his mound, and immediately lowering him- 

 self into the hole, but with a pair of bright 

 eyes just showing over the rim, and a ner- 

 vous tail dusting the edge of the opposite 

 side. Then with a hurried glance at the in- 

 truder, and with a shrill chatter, as a final 



salute, down he went. In a remarkably 

 short time every dog within 200 yards had 

 disappeared. Now and then a timid head 

 could be seen, peering at me over the edge 

 of the mound, its owner giving vent to an 

 occasional bark, much like that of a smal] 

 domestic dog, but sharper. At the least 

 suspicious movement, on my part, all in 

 sight would immediately seek the shelter of 

 their holes. As far as the eye could reach 

 might be seen excited little chaps running 

 over the uneven ground, headed for home, 

 almost out of rifle range. 



I had a small rifle with me and attempted 

 to creep up within range of several dogs 

 I had seen at a distance; but it was of no 

 use. I could get no nearer than 200 yards. 

 Then I concluded to wait for some of them 

 to come up. I sat down in a place where 

 burrows were numerous; but none came in 

 view, although I waited half an hour and 

 kept perfectly still. I was beginning to gain 

 considerable respect for the little rascals; 

 and to understand how it was they were 

 able to hold their own so well in the neigh- 

 borhood of a city where people were in the 

 fields, hunting, almost daily. The dogs 

 make a tempting mark and the man who 

 can go out on foot and shoot a number of 

 them is indeed a good shot. However, 

 there is a way to get them, and that is to 

 approach on horseback. They are not so 

 suspicious of four-footed creatures as they 

 are of man. 



Later I managed, with a camera, to out- 

 wit this same colony. By a good deal of 

 manoeuvring, very close to the ground, I 

 succeeded in focusing on some interest- 

 ing groups. 



Their location was evidently one of long 

 standing, for almost half the holes were un- 

 occupied, and a good many owls and cot- 

 ton-tail rabbits had taken up quarters in the 

 vacant holes. 



The prairie dog can be found all over this 

 part of the country, living as he has always 

 lived, and whether away out on the plains, 

 a thousand miles from nowhere, or holding 

 down the choicest corner lots in a " busted 

 boom " town, he is always the same inde- 

 pendent, happy bit of Western nature. 



Husband (at breakfast, opening a bis- 

 cuit) — " My dear, why are you greater than 

 the ancient Israelites?" 



Wife (thoughtfully)—" I really don't 

 know." 



Husband — " They made bricks without 

 straw; while you can make them of flour." 



