The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-10-27

ISIS among these animals, as well as The re.
gard they have for one another. One oil
them had perched himself directly upon the
| pile of dirt IN iron, of his hole, sitting up
and exposing fair mark, while compan.
ions head was seen pokIng out OF the en-
trance, too iimid perhaps to expose himself
farther. A we'll directed ball from my ri.
flo carried away the entire top Of tie form
era head La..-i...I issm some Two or three
feet from his post perfectly dead. While
re-loading The other daringIy came out, sci
zed his companion BY one Of his legs, and
before We could reach the hole hid drawn
him completely out ofreach, aItho' we tried
70 twist him out with a ramrod. There
was feeling in tho little incident, some.
thing human, which raised the animuls 10
my estimation, and ever after did not al.
tempt to Kill one Of them, except when driy.
en- by hunger.
the prairie dog is apparently about the
size OF a rabbit, heavier perhaps, more com
pact, and with much shorter legs. 10 ap.
pearance i, resembles the woodchuck or
ground hog OF the north, although q tfifle
smaller than tina, animal. 10 their habits
the prairie dogs are social. never live alone
like other animals, but are always found in
Villages or large settlements. They are a
wild, frolcsome sci Of fellows when undls
iurbed, restless aud ever on the move, aud
appear TO take especial deligh, in chatter
ing away the time and visiting about from
hole IN hole In ,oestn anl taIf, $500. 80, - =,
others atlairs--at least so their acIlons
would indicate. When they find good
location Tor village, and no water is handy
old hunters say that they dig q well TO sup
ply the wants Of the community.
On several occasions | crept up close to
one of their villages sllhou, being observ
ed, 20 watch their movements. Directly
o the centre Of one Of them | particularly
noticed very large dog, sitting 10 front Of
has door or entrance Of his burfow, add b,
his own actions and those Of his neiehbors,
II really looked as though he was the presl.
dent, mayor, or chlef--at oil events ho vas
the "big dog" Of the place. For at leas,
an hoaT ! looked at the operations OF this
little community During thu, time the
large dog have mentioned received q, least
a dozen visits from hls fellow dogs, who
would stop and cha, with bun a few minutes
and run off TO their domic.ls. An this bile
he never left his pos, for moment. add
thought ! could discover gravity Of de.
pertinent not discernahle 10 those by whom
he was surrounded. Far is II from ne To-
say that tho visits he received were upon
business, or as having any thing TO do With
the local government Of The village bu, /.
certainly looked SO. If any animal Is en-
lowed with reasoning powers, or has ans
system Of laws regulating the body polite,
Il IS the prairie dog.
In different parts OF tho sane village the
members Of i were seen gambolng, frisk.
ing, aud visiting about, occasionally turn
ing heels over head into their holes, and
appearing TO have oil sorts Of fun amonn
themselves. Gals Of a singular spceies
we're seen among them. They did not ap
pear TO JOIN 10 their sports 10 any way, lui
s''ii 70 he on good terms, and tbey were
seen entering and coming ou, Of the sarne
holes, mas bo considered IS members or tie
same family, or OF least rclnEcrs. Rattle
snakes, too dwell among them, bot the iGca
that has obtained Of their living upon socia
bic terms Of compnntonship with tic dogs,
IS without foundation. The snakrs | look
upon as loaiers, not easily shaken oT By the
regular inhabitants, and they make usc Of
the dwellings, Of the dogs as more comlm,a
be quarters 'han they can find elsewhere
We killed one short distance from bur
row who Ind made meal Of a half grown
dog, aud although do not think they can
master the larger animals, the latter are
willing enough TO let them pass IN and olt
without moIes'allon--an evil ike many IT,
every society that cannot DO got rid OF.
The fret Town We VISITED VAS several
miles 10 length, and at least y mile W width.
Afouud and IN the vicinity, were smaller
suburbs Of the larger toa n % ~ appearance.
We kiadled ire and cooked three of those
we had shot, and found the meat exceeding.
y sweet, tender AID juicy -rrsembIng itat
pi the squirrel, oul1 that there was more fat
upon IT, Thus ended q first VISIT 10 one az
The numerous dog towns of the West
henddFs SANTA r. Erprfition.