560 NATURAL HISTORY. 
was made, a general scampering to get home took place 
among them, some running in one direction, some in another. 
When they reached their habitations, they would stand erect 
at their entrances, with their heads just peeping above, and 
keep up an incessant chirping and frisking of their tails until 
we passed. As we drew quite near, some of them would turn a 
somerset into their holes and disappear. 
We found it difficult to secure them; for they always 
stood at the entrance of their burrows, so that, if shot, they 
fell within. I do not think that out of twenty shots sometimes 
fired at these creatures, more than one specimen was obtained. 
This marmot is said to be good food ; but at the time we 
killed those referred to, our provisions were abundant, and no 
one could be induced to try them. Subsequently, when we got 
on short allowance, I do not think any one would have hesi- 
tated to eat them. 
Rabbits often burrow with these animals, or, what is more 
probable, they occupy habitations made by the latter. The 
habits of a rabbit lead him to places where there are more 
shrubs, and not a bare plain. It is probable, therefore, that 
the rabbits seen among the prairie dogs are merely wanderers, 
who have strayed away from their proper abodes, and finding 
comfortable quarters already provided, without the labor of 
burrowing themselves, have driven away the weaker animals 
and taken possession of their dwellings. 
A small brown owl also resides with the prairie dogs, 
and is almost always found standing on their hillocks, acting 
perhaps as a sentinel, for which the community has to pay 
dear. He is undoubtedly an interloper ; as, from the known 
habits of this bird, one of which is its fondness for ground mice, 
moles, and other small quadrupeds, it doubtless seeks the ha- 
bitations of the prairie dogs to feed on their young. The parent 
dogs can have little courage to permit a diminutive bird like 
this to prey upon their offspring. 
But the most serious interloper in the dog-towns is the 
