American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-04-19
AQUEERlEPUDLlG P,AlRIE DOGS
BY wAsuINoToY IRVING.

burrow, or village, as it is termed, of prai-
RE dogs had been discovered upon the lev
el summit of hill, about mile from the
camp. Having heard much of the habits
and peculiarities of these little animals,
determined to pay visit to the communi-
ty. The prairie dog is, IN fact, one of the
curiosities of the far west; about which
travellers delight to tell marvellous tales,
endowing him at times with something OF
the political and social habits of rational
being, and giving him systems of civil
government and domestic economy, almost
equal to what they used to bestow upon
the beaver.
The prairie dog is an animal of the cony
kind, about the size of the rabbit. He is
of avery sprightly, mercurial nature, quick
sensitive, and somewhat petulant He is
very gregarious, living in large commune
ties, sometimes of several acres in extent,
where innumerable little heaps of earth
show the entrances to the Subterrauean
cells OF the inhabitants, and the well beaten
tracks, like lanes and streets, show their
mobility and restlessness. According to
the accounts given of them, they would
seem to be continually full of sport, bust
ness and public affairs; whisking about
hither and thither, as if on gossiping bust
ness to each others houses, or congregat-
ing in the cool of the evening, or after a
shower, and gamboling together in the O.
pen air. Sometimes-especially when the
moon shines--they pass half the night in
reyelry, barking or yelping with short,
quick, yet weak tones, like those of very
young puppies. While in tho height of
their playtulness and clamor, however,
should there be the least alarm, they all
vanish into their cells in an instant, and
the village remains blank and silent. In
case they are hard pressed by their pur-
suers without any hope of escape, they will
assume pugnacious air, and most whim-
sical look ofimpotent wrath and defiance.
Such are few of the particulars that /
could gather about the habits of this little
inhabltant of the prairies, who, with his
pigmy republic, appears to be subject of
much curious speculation and burlesque
remarks, among the hunters of the far
west
1t was toward evening that set out,
with companion, to the village in ques-
ton. Unluckily, it had been invaded in
the course of the day by some of the rang
ers, who had shot two or three of its in
habitants, ard thrown the whole sensitive
community into confusion. AS we ap-
preached, we could perceive numbers of
the inhabitants seated at the entrance of
their cells, while sentinels seemed to have
been posted on the outskirts to keep look
out. Atthe sight fus the picket guards
scampered in and gave the alarm, where
upon every inhabitant gave a short yelp or
bark, and divedi in his hole, his heels twink
ling in the air, as if he had thrown a som
erset. Nh
We traversed the whole village, or re-
public, which covered an area of about
thirty acres; but not whisker of an in
habitant was to be seen. We probed their
cells as far as the ramrods of our rifles
would reach, but in vain. Moving quiet
ly to little distance, we laid down upon
the ground and watched for long time,
silent and motionless. By and by, eau
tious old burgher would slowly put forth
the end of his nose, but instantly draw it
in again. Another, alta great distance,
would emerge entirely, but catching
glance ofus would throw somerset, and
plunge back again in his hole. AT length,
some who resided on the opposite side of
the village, taking courage from the con-
tinued stiffness, would steal forth and hur-
ry off to distant hole, the residence, pos
sibly, of some family connection or gossip
ing friend, about whose safety they were
solicious, or with whom they wished to
compare notes about the late occurrences.
Others, still more bold, assembled in little
knots in the streets and public places, as if
to discuss the recent outrages offered TO
the commonwealth, and the atrocious MUIR
ders of their fellow burghers.
We rose from the ground, and moved
forward to take nearer view of these pub
lie proceedings, when yelpl yelp! yelp!-
there was a shrill alarm passed from mouth
to mouth; the meeting suddenly disbursed;
feet twinkled in the air in every direction,
and in an instant all had vanished into the
earth. The dusk of the evening put an
end to our observations, but the train Of
whimsical comparisons produced in my
brain, by the moral attributes which had
heard given to these little, polite animals,
still continued after my return TO camp;
and late in the night, as l lay awake after
all the camp was asleep, and heard, in the
stiffness of the hour, faint clamor of shrill
voices from the village, could not help
picturing to myself the inhabitants gather
ed together in noisy assembly and windy
debate, to devise plans for the public safe
ty and TO vindicate the invaded rights and
insulted dignity of the republic.