Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-02


his hole-but with ball from my RI
file the entire head of the. animal would
be knocked off, and after this there was
no escape.
For three hours we remained in this
commonwealth, watching the move
ments of the inhabitants and occasion
ally picking one of them off. No less
than nine were got by the party, and
one circumstance 1 would mention as
singular in the extreme, and which
shows the social relationship which
exists among these animals, as we'll as
the regard they have one for another.
One of them had perched directly up
on the pile of earth in front of his hole
sitting up and exposing fair mark,
while a companions head was seen
poking out Of the entrance, too timid
perhaps TO expose himselfIarther. A
well -drected ball from my rifle carried
away the entire top ofthe formers head
and knocked him some two or three
feet from his post perfectly dead
While reloading, the other daringly
came out, seized his companion by
one Of his legs, and before we could
reach the hole had drawn him complete
Iy out of reach, although we tried to
twist him out with a ramrod. There
was a feeling in the little incident, a
something human, which raised the
animals in my estimation, and ever af-
ter did not attempt to kill one Of them
except when driven by extreme hun
ger.
The praire dog is apparently about
the size OF a rabbit, heavier perhaps,
more compact, and with much shorter
legs. In appearance it resembles the
woodchuck or ground,ho of the North,
although a trihe smaller than that ami
NAL. In their habits the prairie dogs
are social, never live alone like other
animals, but are always found in villa
ges or large settlements. They are a
wild, frolicksome set Of fellows when
undisturbed, restless and ever on the
move, and appear 10 take especial de-
light in chattering away the time and
visiting about from hole to hole to Cos
SIP and talk over one a2other's afairs-at
least so their actions would Indicate
When they find good location for a
village, and no water is handy, old hun
tiers say that they dig a we'll to supply
the wants of the community.
On several DECISIONS | crePt close
to one of their villages, without being
observed, 10 watch their movements.
Directly in the centre Of one ofthsm |
particularly noticed very large dog,
sitting in front of his door or entrance
to his burrow, and by bis own actions
and those Of his neighbors it really
| looked az though he twas the President
mayer, or chief-at'all events he was the
"big dog" ofthe place. For at least
an hour | looked at the operations IN
this little community. During that
time the large dog l have mentioned
received at least dozen visits from
his fellow dogs, who would stop and
chat with him few moments and then
run off TO their domicils. All this while
he never left his post for moment
and | thought l could discover gray
ity in his department not observable
in those by whom he was surrounded
Far as it is from me to say that the Wis
its he received were upon business, O.
as having any thing,,to do with the 10
cal government Of the village; but
certainly looking so. If fanny animal i
! endowed with reasoning powers, o
has any system Of laws regulating tn
r body polite, it is the prairie dog.
= In different parts of the same villag
: the members of it were seen gambol
I ling, frisking and visiting about, occa
sionally turned heels over head int
their holes, and app caring TO have a
d sorts of fun among themselves. Owl
n ola singular species were olso see
among them. They did not appea
r to Join in their sports in any way bI
Y still seemed to be on good terms an
r as they were seen entering and comm
5 out of the same holes may be consIc
# cred as members Of the same famll
Il or at least retainers. Rattlesnake
v too, dwell among them but the ide
It that has obtained Of their living upo
: sociable terms Of companionship wit
e the dogs is without foundation. Th
y snakes | looked upon as loalers, nc
S easily shaken off by the regular lnhat
e itants, aud they make use of the dive
= lings of the dogs as more comiortabl
d quarters than they can find elsewhere
s We killed one a short distance frol
a bur;ow who had made a meal OF
! haIrbrown dog and although l do n
- think they can master the larger amin
= the latter are willing enough TO /
: them pass in and out without molest
, tion-and evil like in every societ
= that cannot be got rid OF.
= The first town we visited was sever
= miles in length and at least mile
; width. Around, and in the vIclnI
were smaller villages-suburbs oil +
larger town to all appearance. "