1878. ] The Prairie Dog, Owl and Rattlesnake. 207 
unlike a watchman’s rattle, nor less melodious, they fly to a 
neighboring mound and resume their pensive meditation. At 
nightfall they fly about in search of food, and through many 
months have I listened to their monotonous tones blending with 
the similar notes of the raincrow and the startling cry of the cay- 
ote, upon the stillness of the western plains. By far the most 
frequently, the owl is found in the deserted villages of the prairie 
| dogs, in communities by themselyes. The young or half grown 
§ I have only noticed in the latter part of July and August. 
; The relations of the rattlesnake with both squirrel and owl, 
eee eg ae me 
: although not at all friendly, is scarcely so inimical as one might 
suppose. Of the species most peculiar to the prairie dog regions 
~ (Crotalus confluentus), I have destroyed many hundreds, and 
although in numerous instances the stomach would show the 
young of the prairie dog, yet I was never positive in finding the 
young owl. In one instance I found the adult dog poisoned by 
the rattlesnake, and twice have caught the half grown as they 
were driven out by the venomed blow. In these instances the 
. cry of pain and fear was almost incessant, and peculiar; the little 
victims succumbed in three or four minutes to the fatal poison. 
For a long time I believed that the occupancy of a burrow by a 
) snake would prevent the ingress of the dog, but I am now satis- 
| fied that such is not the case. The rattlesnake is never wanton, 
it simply defends itself from danger or annoyance, or procures 
its food by means of its terrible fangs. Small animals or other 
: reptiles do not generally show much fear, or at least soon recover 
~ composure when thrown together with them; least of all will 
2 they bite other snakes. It is not very uncommon to meet on 
| _ warm days in spring or autumn, rattlesnakes and racers (Bascan- 
| -~ ton flaviventris) sunning themselves entwined together near the 
_ entrance of some favorable hole. The prairie dog will pass by 
| = them and enter its burrow. Both of these snakes choose any 
_ convenient shelter for the time being, neither molested nor par- 
= ticularly avoided by the prairie dog and owl. When fortune 
favors them they readily devour the young squirrel, and more 
than one at a meal; but their more usual food is the ground- 
nesting birds, rats, mice, ground squirrels, etc. In one moderate 
_ sized rattlesnake, whose stomach I examined, were founda freshly 
killed ground squirrel, and slum lark, ne with a half 
ao lark finch O eS 
