St. Landry democrat., 1882-09-30
PRAIRIE DOGS.

PRAIRIE DOGS.
One day not long ago Mr.. Thompson
came rushing into my room IN a high
state of excitement. and after eXchang-
ng the usual greetings remarked, I'M
oreSsively: "l'm going to be a natural
ST. "What is a naturalist?' | in
luired; not because | didn't know, for,
bless YOU. we people who write for the
papers have to know everything; but
Mr. Thompson had so many strange
IDEAS, and so many new definitions for
he words which he used, that | asked
him to see if he knew. "W hat is 4
laturalist?' | said. Mr.. Thompson
ooked solemn for a moment. rubbed his
orehead, then answered, after much
les tation:
"a naturalist is-is-is-a-a-oh--
a-um-a-one of those fellows who sit
around and watch bugs and write what
they know about them
"Well, what kind of bugs have you
been watching?' queried |,
Prairie dogs and owls" he re-
sponded, promptly; then added as he
saw me smiling: 81 don't mean that
resent the whole of animal nature
"Ah. And what did you find out
about prairie dogs and owls?'' / in
quired.
Mr.. Thompson settled his cravat, and,
choosing more comfortable chair, with
several preparatory ''hems' began his
story.
"While was in the West last sum-
mer | stopped for short time at a
small town in Colorado to study the
habits OF the prairie dog. | wandered
out one morning on the prairie and
seated myself On a large mound in the
midst of one of the dog villages. AS |
looked about me ! noticed that in the
gazing at me curicusly, while on the
top OF several of the mounds sat small
brown owls, regarding me in much the
same manner as old Prof. Spilkins used
to look at a new variety of insect. As
| watched the owls [ could distinguish
likenesses to number of my old
teachers And just as | had fixed upon
one that looked like old President
Bompton-you remember old Prex
compton, with his long beard and
spectacles--well, just as had fixed up
on an owl with long beard and spec
tacies' -
But | demonstrated, ''owls don
have long boards and spectacles.'
They don't eh?' answered Thomp-
son, angrily. ''Have you ever seen a
wild owl? Did YOU ever see them in their
own homes? Do you doubt my word?
Didn't | see the one that looke like
old Prof. Euclid making squares and
trianges and circles in the ,lirto And
one tnat | called Prof Perry was dig
ginG ventiiating tlue into his burrow,
and an old owl that was the perfect i'm
age of Merrill sung out to me to learn
thirtv-siX analyses for tomorrow. |
know what 1 m talking about"
81 have no doubt that you do. I
merely interrupted you because l
thought you were joking. | am sorry.
Pray go on,' said |, fastening to apol-
ogize.
"That's all right" answered Thomp-
son, somewhat Modified ''Where was
II Oh. Just as But his recollec-
tons of what had happened seemed to
be so hazy, and his story was SO discon-
nected, that shall not try to follow his
method of relating it, but will merely
give you the facts as nearly as I can re-
member them. @'.
{ Mr.. Thompson was sitting opposite to
a large mound, watching the owls when
out Of the mound stepped an immense
prairie dog, who seated himself facing
Mr. Thompson. He gazed at Mr..
Thompson severely, moving his head
from side to side, as if in deep medita-
ton. AS he sat upright on his hind
quarters, with his fore paws drawn up
in front of him, he looked SO much like
a terrier dog in the attitude Of begging
that Mr.. Thompson was about 70 throw
him piece of bread, when he cleared
his throat with pompous chem and
remarked: ''What is your errand in our
eity?''
Mr.. Thompson was somewhat sur
prised, but he answered that he was
travelling in search of information; that
he had heard much of the prairie dogs
and their wonderful villages, and that
he was curious to learn more of them
from personal observation.
The prairie dog eyed Kim closely.
"You have no gun9' he asked, dis
trustfully. Mr.. Thompson replied that
his visit was not to injure or to destroy
but to become acquainted with them.
"a most commendable ambition re-
sponded the prairie dog, graciously;
land as Governor of our city welcome
you; only he added, II beg Of you
not to call us dogs; we are marmots,
and have no resemblance to dogs ex-