Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-08-31

ed away the entire top of the formers head
and knocked him some two or three feet
from his post perfectly dead. While re-
loading, the other daringly came out seiz~
ed his companion by one leg, and before
we could reach the hole, had drawn him
completely on! of reach, although we tried
to twist him out with ramrod. There
was feeling in the little incident, a some
thing human, which raised the animal in
my estimation, and ever after | did not
attempt TO kill one Of them, except when
driver: by hunger.
The prairie dog is apparently about the
size Of a rablt. heavier perhaps, more COM
pact, and with much shorter legs. In ap-
pearance, it resembles the woodchucll or
ground hog of the north, although trihe
smaller than that animal. In their habits,
the prairie dogs are social, never Lived
alone like other animals, bat are always
found in villages or large Settlements
They are a wild, frolicksome set of fellows
when undisturbed, restless and on the
move, and appear to take especial delight,
in chattering away the time and visiting
about from hole to hole. to gossip and talk
over one and another's atIalrs-at least,
SO their actions would indicate. When
they find good location for village, and
no water is handy, old hunters say that
they dig a well to supply the wants Of the
community.
On several occasions, crept up close to
one Of their villages, without being obser
we'd, TO watch their movements, Directly
! "a, g. Of bor rtic la rlv
noticed very large dog, sitting in front of
his door or entrance to his burrow, and by
his own actions and those of his neighbors
it really looked as though he was the presi
dent, mayor or cnicf-at all events, he was
the "big dog" Of the place. For at least
an hour | looked at the operations Of the
little community. During that time, the
large dog | have mentioned, received at
least dozen visits from his fellow dogs,
who would stop and chat with him a few
moments, and then off to their domi ellis.
All this while he never left his post for a
| moment, and thought | could discover IL
gravity in his department net dlscernlbe
in those by whom he was surrounded.
Far is it from me TO say, that the visits
which he received where upon business,
or as having any thing to do with the local
government Of the village; but it certainly
looked so. If any animal is endowed with
reasoning powers, or has any system Of
laws regulating the body polite, II Is the
| prairie dog
| In different parts Of the same village,
! the members were seen gambling, frisk-
| ing, and visiting about, occasionally turn
! h., tboi M,
appearing to have all sorts of fun among
themselves.
Owls of singular species where also
seen among them. They did not appear
to Join in their sports in any way, bat stll
see med to be on good terms, and as they
were seen entering and coming Out of the
same holes, may be considered as members
of thc same family, or at least retalners.
RattIcsnakes, too dwell among them. But
the idea of that, has obtained Of their living
upon sociabc terms of conpanionship with
the dogs, is without foundation. The
snakes looked upon as loaters, not easily
shaken off by the regular inhabitants, and
they make use of the dwellings, Of the dogs
as more comfortable quarters than they
can find elsewhere. We killed one a short
distance from burrow who had made a
meal of halt grown dog; and although |
do not think they can master the larger
animals, the later are willing enough to
Ietthem pass in and out without moestalion
an evil like many in every society, that
cannot be got rid Of.
The first town we visited was several
miles in length, and at least a mile in
width Around, and in the vicinity, were
smaller ages-suburbs OF the larger
town to all appearance.
We kndled a fire and cooked three Of
those we had shot, and found the meat eX-
ceedingy sweet, tender and juicy-rcscm-
bling that Of the squirrel, only that there
was more fat upon it. Thus ended a first
visit to Que Of the numerous Dog Towns
Of the West.