The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-07-04
THE PRAIRIE DOG AND ITS UNLIMITED
GUESTS.

The prairie dog (Cynomys ludorici-
anus of the Missouri region, and
westward and southwark. belongs to
a genus of American rodents interme-
date between the marmOts and
prairie squirrels. This woodchuck in
miniature is about Ii inches long,
with the tail inches more: the color
above is reddish or cinnamon brown,
with lighter tips to the BARS, and a
few black ones intermixed; beneath,
brownish white or yellow; tail like the
back, with a black tip. The cheek
pouches are very rudimentary, the
eyes large, and the ears very short.
The prairie dog was probably so
named from the sharp tone of its
chatterlng somewhat resembling the
yelp of IA small dog. as it bears no ex-
ternal resemblance whatever to the
dog. 1t is the petit chien Of the French
/ Canadians, and the rish-tOn -rish of
the West Indian.
These interesting animals live in
! burrows, and great numbers are found
III the same locality, forming COM
munities which the hunters call ''dog
towns. These villages often extend
over a distance of several miles.
Before the entrance TO each burroW
there is little comical mound of
earth, heaped up to Il height of about
Is inches, and. on the top of this. one
Of the occupants may usually be seen
sitting. intent on watching what is
going on III the community. or on the
lookout for intruders. At the first
alarm caused by an intruder, a general
scampering takes place throughout
the village, with cries of warning.
Upon reaching their mounds they sit
perfectly quiet, like so many sentinels,
curious TO know what all the com
motion is about. Alta further alarm
they approach still closer to their en-
frances, ready to dive in. and appear
to make vehement threats throwing
up their tails in very comical man
ner with each energetic bark, ac-
complaining this noisy chattering
with a liquid gurgling sound. In a
twinkling they disappear into their
burrows in ludicrous. tumbling
manner, and then. after a short time,
they may be seen here and there
peeping out to see if the coast is clear.
Like young pups. they are very
clumsy in their movements, and when
las rarely occurs) they are surprised
at distance from their burrows and
find they cannot escape,
they assume an air of audacity
and most singular expression Of
defiance or Of important anger. before
allowing themselves to be captured.
They feed chiefly al night, their
food consisting almost exclusively Of
grass and succulent stems. In the
fertil lands of Central Kansas. they
something's prove terrible pests to the
farmers in the sad havoc they make
. among the fields of growing corn.
Squirrel-like they are prudent
enough to lay up a full supply Of pro-
vender to last them through the long
, and rigorous winters they often have
to endure. 1t is said that late in
! summer one may frequently meet
with burrows around the entrance of
which. for some distance, the grass
, has been neatly mown and left to
cure: and that, few days later, the
hay will be found to have been cleanly
gathered up and carried into the bur.
row.
One of the most curious things in
J regard to the domestic economy OF
, this little animal is that of its strange
3 companionship with such undesirable
guests as the burrowing owl and the
Tattlesnake, both of which are usually
!, found inhabiting its abode. As to
!. the owl. it is there like other parasites
: perhaps, on sufferance merely. and
. very little notice is taken OF ii
? presence by the dog. Yet that ths
rreeence Of the intruder 10 not always