i6 
STRANGE DWELLINGS . 
able to survey a wide extent of horizon, and as soon as it sees 
an intruder, it gives a sharp yelp of alarm, and dives into its 
burrow, its little feet knocking together with a ludicrous flourish 
as it disappears. In every direction a similar scene is enacted. 
Warned by the well-known cry, all the Prairie Dogs within 
reach repeat the call, and leap into their burrows. Their 
curiosity, however, is irrepressible, and scarcely have their feet 
vanished from sight, than their heads are seen cautiously pro- 
truded from the burrow, and their inquisitive brown eyes 
sparkle as they examine the cause of the disturbance. 
The Prairie Dog has not the privilege of possessing a home 
exclusively devoted to its own use, for the Burrowing Owl, 
sometimes called the Coquimbo Owl ( Athene cunicularia ), and 
the terrible rattlesnake, take forcible possession of the burrows, 
and devour the inmates, thus procuring board and lodging at 
very easy rates. The rattlesnake at all events does so, the 
bodies of young Prairie Dogs having been found in its stomach. 
On the discovery of owls and rattlesnakes within the burrows 
of the Prairie Dog, it was generally thought that these incon- 
gruous beings associated together in perfect harmony, forming 
in fact a ‘ Happy Family’ below the surface of the ground. The 
ruthless scalpel of the naturalist, however, effectually dissipated 
all such romantic notions, and proved that the snake was by no 
means a welcome guest, but an intruder on the premises, self- 
billeted on the inmates, like soldiers on obnoxious householders, 
procuring lodging without permission, and eating the inhabitants 
by way of board. 
The reason for the presence of the owls is not so evident, 
though it is not impossible that they may also snap up an occa- 
sional Prairie Dog in its earliest infancy, while it is very young, 
small, and tender. These winged and scaled intruders are not 
found in all the burrows, though many of the habitations are 
infested by them. 
The general aspect of the Prairie Dog is not unlike that of 
its near relative, the Alpine Marmot, so familiar in this country 
through the mediumship of Savoyard boys, who carry the 
animal about in a box, and exhibit it for halfpence. 
