- -Ethe while staring with their solemn eyes till with a cry not 
206 The Prairie Dog, Owl and Rattlesnake. [April, 
making furious angry dashes at her, till she was compelled to 
choose another path. In three years they had propagated to a 
very considerable little colony with several dozen burrows. 
I have seen it stated that the prairiè dog finds an enemy in the 
skunk. I can hardly credit it. The skunks of the plains fre- 
quent the low marshy lands near streams and ponds, raising their - 
young near the water’s edge; and not usually approaching the 
vicinity of the prairie dog villages; their food consisting mostly 
of insects, snails, crayfish, etc. Prof. Snow observed them feeding 
largely upon Améblychila cylindriformis. 
It is a prevalent belief in the west, and has so been published, 
that these animals dig wells for their water! I have never yet 
learned of an authenticated instance, and in many cases the 
idea is absurd. Their villages are often in high localities, several 
feet above water, and much of the distance through loose imper- 
vious sand or rock strata! It is true that in captivity they readily 
and frequently drink, but this is also the case with the little 
striped squirrel (Spermophilus), and that the latter also dig wells 
is too great a tax upon credulity. They do not obtain water from 
the surface even when within convenient distance. 
The prairie dog and burrowing owl (Sfeotyto var. hypogéa) 
will, not infrequently, occupy the same hole, but the latter, like i 
the other parasites, is’ there on sufferance, to whose presence the : 
: ; 
. 
dog pays but little heed, though probably one of the causes of : 
the abandonment of the villages. Not long since I was greatly 
amused while passing a mound upon which an owl was quietly 
engaged in contemplation, at the attempts of a squirrel to pass by i 
into his hole. If any of my readers have evef observed a puppy 
attempting to purloin the treasures of a sitting hen, they will 
have a very good idea of the action and appearance of both owl 
and dog—the owl very indignant and the dog very sheepish. 
After numerous ignominious retreats, however, he finally ran the a 
gauntlet successfully, but not without several most vicious 
peckings. : : 
There are but few birds that present a more ridiculous appear- 
ance than these owls. Most of the time during the day they” 
spend standing quietly at the entrance of their dwellings, engaged, 
apparently in the deepest contemplation. At the appearance of 
an intruder they begin the most comical bowings and courtesies, 
š > 
$ 3 
