DON COSSACKS. 
330 
chap, ground with incredible quickness; excavating, 
■ first of all, a small cylindrical hole or well, 
perpendicularly, to the depth ol three feet; 
thence, like a correct miner, it shoots out a 
level, although rather in an ascending direction, 
to prevent being incommoded by water. At 
the extremity of this little gallery it forms a 
very spacious chamber; and to this, as to a 
granary, it brings, every morning and evening, 
all it can collect of favourite herbage, of corn 
(if it can be found), of roots, and of other food. 
Nothing is more amusing than to observe its 
habits. If any one approach, it is seen sitting, 
at the entrance of its little dwelling, erect, upon 
its hinder feet, like the suroke, carefully noticing 
whatsoever is going on around it. In the be- 
ginning of winter, previously to retiring for the 
season, it carefully closes with sand the entrance 
to its subterraneous abode, to keep out the snow; 
as nothing annoys it more than water, which 
is all the Caknucks and Cossacks use in taking 
them ; for the instant water is poured into their 
burrows, they run out, and are easily caughf. 
The Calmucks are very fond of them as an 
article of food; but they are rarely eaten by 
the Cossacks. Their greatest enemy is the 
falcon: this bird makes a constant breakfast 
and supper of suslics. They have from two to 
I 
