The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1859-07-01

Horace Greeley Oh Plniric "Vnr-
mfimts."
Mr. Greeley, writing ftom section TO-
Prairie Dog Creek, half way between
Leavenwortb and Pixies Peak, gives the
following account Of tho animals inhabit.
ing the prairies;
The Prairie Wolf was the tho first Of
these gentry 10 pay his respects to u.s.
lie is a sncaking, cowardly little wretch,
Of dull or dirty white color, much re-
sembling a small, short bodied dog set up
on pretty long legs. | believe his only
feat emitting him to rank as beast OF
prey consists in sometimes, when hard
pressed by hunger, digging out prairie
dog and making a meal OF him. His usu.
al provendcr is the carcass-no matter
how putrid--or any dead buffalo, mule OF
OK that he may find exposed on the prai.
ries. He is a paltry creature.
But the gray woll--who is also a deni-
zon Of the prpirios Il think we have seen
at least dozen Of the species to-day is a
scoundrol Of much more imposing cali
bcr Tie delights TO lurk around the out.
skirts Of a herd Of buffalo, keeping out Of
sight and unsuspected In the rayines and
creek timber 20 far a. possihloi aud wo "
the unlucky calf that strays (whichhe sell
dom does) outside Of the exterior limo oI
defense formed by the bulls. lf very
large and hungry tho gray wolf willsome'
timos manage to cut a COW of from the
herd, and, intctposing between her Ont
her companions, dctain or drive her fur
ther away, until she il beyond tho hop,
|ofrcscue, when her doom Is scaled ri,
livolirst hope, however, is that Of finding
buffalo, whom some hunter has wound
ed, so that he cannot keep up with the
herd; especially should II be stampoded
Let him once get such ono by himself
and a few snaps at his hHm,strings, tnS
ing excellent care TO keep out OF the way
OF his horns, insurcs that the victim will
have ceased 20 a buffalo, and become mcr,
woll-meat before another morning.
II is impossible for stranger 10 th,
prairies to realize the impudonco ofthes,
prairic-lawycrs. or some twenty ofthcu
that have seen within the last two days
| think not six have really run from u.s.
One we saw Just before us two hours ago
kept on his way across the prairie, stop
ping occasionally TO take n good look a
us, but not hurrying himself IN the lcas
on our account, though for some minute
within good rifle range, Once to-day, ,ou
division superintendent sent ball ufte
one who was making deliberate time a
way from us, hitting him in a quarter wher
the compliment should have expedited hi
motioni hut Il did not seem 20 have thn
effect. II il very common for thos
wolves to follow at night man travelling
on the road on mule, not making an
belligerent demonstrations, but waitinl
for whatever may turn up. Sometime
the Express wagons have been folloWe
in this way, but think that unusual
But this creature is up to anything where
in there Is a chance for game.
The prairic-Dog is the funny fellow Q
these parts--frsky himself, and a sourc
of merriment to others. He dens on AZ
dry, grassy ground-usually on the dryes
part Of the high prairie--and his hole
superfcially a very large Hnt-hill, wit
the necessary orfco in its center. o.
this Ont-hill sits the proprietor--olton NOR
than ohe--a chunky little icllow-in siz
between gray squirrel and n rnbbit--sa
{ about huff a woodchuck. When we az
prouch, he raises tho cry Of danger--n
bark at all, but something between Oh
piping Of frog on warm Spring ever
r iae, and the -nnise made by a very youn
puppy-then drops into his hole, and r. B
lent andinvisible. The holes are not ver
regularly placed, hut some thirty fec
apart, and when | say that | believe W
have to-day passed within sight of at leas
three square miles ofthese holes, the read
or can guess how many Of these animal
must exist here, even supposing that thcr
is usually but one 10 each hole. judg
that there cannot bo less than a hundre
square miles Of Prairie-Dog towns within
the present Buffalo range.
That the Prnirie-Dog and the Owl-o
a small, brOwn-backed, white-bellied spe
cies-do live harmoniously in the sam
hole, | know, for have seen il. pre-
sumo the owl pays for his lodgings like
gentleman, probably by turning In somt
provisions toward the supply of the com
mon table. IL so, this is the most success
iul example Of industrial and househol,
association yet furnished. That the rat
/ tlesnake is ever admitted us third part
ner, Indignantly deny. No doubt he ha
been found in the Prairie-Dog's home
it would be just like him TO seek so cosy
nest--but he doubtless entered like a tru,
border ruiiian, and contriyed TO make him
self deal more free than welcome. Po
liteness, or (if you please) prudence, mai
have induced the RI htful owner 10 sub
NIT to a joint tenancy at will-the vii
of the tenant, not that Of the rightfu
landlord-but no consent was ever given
unless under constraint ofthat potent log
ic which the intruder carries at the tip o
his tail.