95 
They are found in immense numbers over the expanse of 
open country between the Missouri river and the Rocky 
mountains and south into Mexico—the villages formed ;by 
them sometimes occupying miles of country, which is com¬ 
pletely honey-combed with their burrows; they dig to a con¬ 
siderable depth, those in the Garden having burrowed under a 
wall fourteen feet deep; they were overcrowded, however, and 
in a state of nature, with room to stretch out their villages on 
every side, it is not probable that they dig so deeply. The 
dogs are found in close association with the burrowing owl 
and the rattlesnake, which has given rise to the fable 
that they all live together on terms of intimacy and friend¬ 
ship. This is far from being the case, however, the evidence 
going to prove that the snake invades the home of the dog 
for the purpose of feeding upon the young, while the owl— 
to save itself the trouble of digging its own habitation—takes 
possession of the deserted burrows which are left in the 
gradual change of location which is continually going on 
among the dogs. Strong evidence was given of a natural 
enmity existing between the two, by the introduction of a 
pair of the owls into the enclosure of the dogs at the Garden, 
—they were instantly attacked by the latter, and as their 
wings had been clipped, they were unable to get away, and 
although they fought desperately were finally killed. 
Near by are a number of Woodchucks (.Arctomys monax). 
This rodent, closely allied to the marmot of Europe, is well 
known to every farmer’s boy from Canada to South Carolina; 
it burrows in the ground and when afforded proper facilities, 
as in this case, is rarely seen during the daytime. It is one 
of the most common of our wild animals, and may, perhaps, 
be better known under the name of ground hog—though 
why “hog” it is difficult to say, as it does not resemble 
that animal in any way whatever. The Siberian Marmot 
( A . bobac ) is of very similar habits. 
The Common Skunk (.Mephitis mephiticd) is a small carni¬ 
vore belonging to the large family Mustelidcz , comprising also 
the otters, weasels, badgers, &c., all of which are carnivores 
of small or medium size, mainly living on land, though 
several of them, as the mink and otter, are essentially aquatic 
in habit. It inhabits the United States from the Missouri 
river eastward,—the western and south-western parts of the 
