488 ZOOLOGY. 
in towns on the prairie. They dwell together in families. They 
prefer light sandy soil on the prairie, where the shivered limy 
sandstone crops out, but when the prairie is enclosed and culti- 
vated, they take possession of the fencing, and burrowing under 
the bottom rail, excavate sufficient cells and construct their copious 
grassy beds there. Out on the prairie, in the wild state, they 
_ make one principal burrow, in front of which they pile up the earth 
that comes from all their subterranean galleries. They rarely 
extend their main burrow more than eight or nine inches in depth, 
while their underground passages are seldom more than four ot 
five inches below the surface. They also construct several secret 
outlets, opening ten or twelve inches from the main hole, whieh 
opening they very ingeniously conceal by strewing a few grass 
blades over it; and so, when the rat hunter attacks the citadel the 
inmates escape through some of the concealed passages. Eight or 
nine inches deep and turned a little to one side in the main hole, is 
a cavity seven or eight inches in diameter, filled with fine, soft grass : 
- blades, which must be quite warm and pleasant, serving the family n 
for winter quarters. During the hot months, they construct oe 
grass beds in a basinlike cavity, which they dig out, under the 
sides of large tufts of grass, or little heaps of brush. The above 
is about the average customs of the distinct families in. referent : 
to the manner of making their homes, and in the same district i 
in suitable soil, they construct many such family residences, ant 
cut out very nice, clean roads from one to another in all directions. 
The grass, weeds, dewberry briers and everything in the way: — 
cut out and carried away leaving the road about two inches all m i, 
underrunning the grass and other rank growths that may e . ; 
the way. I have traced some of these roads fifty or sixty pee 2 
upon which there had been so much labor expended that it a ca 
not have been the result of individual enterprise. These eee 
~- which bear the indications of much travel, are evidently ori 
of a unanimous governmental effort. They are found unive 
in their cities, and passing from house to house there aie aT 
cross roads. < 
This Rat has a large thick head, nothing remarkable about OF 
mouth and nose, eyes full, black and ‘lustrous, ears half of x 
