The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-08-12

upon his looking-out place, perk his head
and commence yelping.
We were armed, one with double
barrellcd shot gun, another with one of
Colts eight-shooting rifles of small bore,
while | had rifle made in louisville by
the celebrated Dickson, running about
twen'y-iour TO the pound, and acknowl-
edged by all to be the best weapon in the
camp. 1t would drive ball through and
through a buffalo at the distance of one
hundred and fifty yards, held up that far,
and there was no jumping off or running
away by deer when struck in the right
place-lo use common expression lie
would never know what hurt him. Hit
one of the dogs where we would with a
small ball, he would almost invariably
turn peculiar somerset and get into his
hole-but with ball from my rifle the
entire head of the animal would be knock
ed off, and after this there was no escape.
For three hours we remained in this
commonwealth, watching the movements
Of the inhabitants and occasionally pick
ing one of them off. No less than nine
were got by the party, and one circum-
stance | would mention as singular in the
extreme, and which shows the social re-
lationship which exists among these ami
mails, as well rs the regard they have one
for another. One of them had pearched
himself directly upon the pile Of earth in
front of his hole, sitting up and exposing
a fair mark, while a companions head
was seen poking on, of the entrance, too
limld perhaps to expose himself farther.
A well-dlrected ball from my rifle carried
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, sci
zed his companion by one of his legs, and
before we could reach the hole had drawn
him completely out ofreach, although we
tried to twist i;n OUT with ronrod.
There was feeling in the little incident,
something human, which raised the ami
mails in my estimation, and ever after did
no, attempt to kill one of them, except
when driven by extreme hunger.
The prairie dog is apparently about the
size Of rabbit. heavier perhaps, more
compact, and with much shorter legs. In
appearance ;. resembles the woodchuck
or ground hog of the North, although a
triile smaller than that animal. In their
habits the prairie dogs are social, never
live alone like other animals, but are al
ways found in villages orarge settlements.
They are wild, frolicsome set of fellows
when undislurbcd, restless and ever on
the move, and appear 10 take especial de-
light in chattering away the time and Wis
Ting about from hole to hole to gossip and
talk over one anoher's allairs--at least so
their actions would indicate. When they
find a good location for village, and no
water is handy, old hunters say that they
dig well to supply the wants Of the COM
munity.
On several occasions | crepl up close
to one of their villages, without being OBJ
served, to watch their movements. Di-
rectly in the centre of one of them par
ticularly noticed very large dog, sitting
in front Of his door or entrance to his bur-
row, and by his own actions and those Of
his neighbors 1t really looked as though he
was the president, mayor or chief-at all
events he was the "big dog of the place.
For at least an hour looked at the opera
tons in this little community. During
that time the large dog have mentioned
received at least a dozen visits RON his
fellow dogs, who would stop and cha.
with him a few moments and then run off
TO their domicils. All this while he never
left his post for moment, and thought
| could discover a gravity in his deport-
ment not discernable in those by whom he
was surrounded. Far is it from me 10 say
that the visits he received were upon bu.
sness, or as having any thing to do with
the local government of the village; but il
certainly looked so. If any animal is en-.
dowed with reasoning powers, or has any
system of laws regulating the body polite,
it is the prairie dog.
In different parts of the same village
the members of it were seen gambolling
frisking and visiting about occasionally
turning heels over head into their holes,
and appearing to have all sorts of fun a.
mong themselves. Owls of singular
species were also seenamong them. They
did not appear to join in their sports ii
any way, but still seemed To be on goot
terms, and as they were seen entering ant
coming out Of the same holes may be con
Siderod % nenhers of the same family