New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-27
PRAIRIE DOGS IN CENTRAL P4RK.
FORTY coLoNIsrs s.rrLs 4 TowY-uow THEY
WORKED.

FORTY coLoNIsrs Stills \ Towy-uow THEY
WORKED
An addition to the geological collection at the
Arsenal In Cent? Park has just teen completed IN the
rear OF the Arsenal the baar pit that being out
out OF the rock, and IL attracting much attention Tho
now feature IL little strip OF land thirty feet long aud
nearly half wide iGc!oScl with rou railing radiant
with new coat OF paint At first the visitor may
see nothing Enclosure but the bare yellow earth,
nrown into rough little mounds In several places II no
llngera n moment several Jumps Di what appeared tho
soil will spring uto ne AMI presently whole colony OF
prairie dogs viii issue ont from thnr Underground
dweinga aud irollc around At any unusual sound they
whsk their holes In instant anu arc ont OF sight
The so OF tho Prairie Dog Town finished last sun
day II vas repaired by digging blsa the sllos aud
bottom OF which line with concrete and the whole
then filled up with fifteen feet Of EARTH When the soil
had settled ready for the colony TO enter into
possession and tho green railing prevented the ooonlss
from strayng outside OF town limits. There are forty Of
tho dogs owned by the Park authorities. They were
obtained from Nebraska spring and have been kept
i'm cage In one OF the buildings until Dr. COnkln, super
iutendcnt OF tho mcuagcre, could prepare better
quarters for them
Dr. Ccnkln told the Park Commissioners that tie best
way to care for tho animals WAS to mako foi them
homo "A nearly Ike their possible and that 1t
could be done at small expense. When the dogs we're
turned INTO the Enclosure they frskod about the space
few moments IN evident surprise Then they gathered
in knot for consultation In which fat Old patriarch
seemed to assume tho leadership They grasped tue
situation and determined to make the hest OF It, The old
qog followed by six other stout dogs selected central
spDt In the nclUsuie aud began TO dig with his focpaws
until I'm minute or two his head out OF sight Ho
then stepped aside ana graycy rat on his launches while
another dog began digging in the hole thus started The
remaining five dogs stood In heLind the one that
was digging while tao CnOccupicd do-s Kept together
hort distance away. IA the dirt was thrown up rom
the hole tho dog that was next to the one digging
al % tfth 4
brhnd IN short time the first dog was out OF sight
lie stopped and took his position last III Tie row ana
the next one began digging Tho foreman continued TO
watch tue ol cratons quietly OF 10 te LroEIoss
OF the work ut short Intervals IL dld not take long
before the whole six were down into the ground lhen
the worhmcu reinforced by another detachment unt
0uay the forty dogs had Disappeared WIN INC oNcepOn
OF the old one who stood outside. Presently there was
NOV cne OF the earth ut distance OF nteen leet
dogs head appeared and the subtsrranean worKmeh All
fled ont ul tho gallery which they had made. . go
The dogs seemed highly pleased with tue result or thrlr
work, m tue foreman OF the work had Inspected
The tunnel several times the colony ihen divided INTO
erOups each group scertng spot aud going 10 work 70
burrOw on rs account Five OF them WIN Tue Olu
dog continued TO work at tho first turrow During the
afternoon each OF tho groups made IT, own nome uhier
Yesterday they busy rounding ON their hals anu
carrying In large quantities or grass which were given
busy workers Tho animals slightly smaller thhn tho
woOdchuck They live socially together anu never
appear quarrel Occasionally they utter low SHARP
yep said that the prdres Owls ana ratileshaAes
Oiton mako quarters IN th3ir buftoWs,
"They Intelligent. interesting lttle creatures ahu
quite harmless. said Dr Conklln YESTERDAY. l!it 1u
gray fellow seems TO be KIND Of leRder among lhen
The fret hole that they dug In which he liyes Is the
largest and 10 be sort OF city hall where they all
assemble at times Tho holes probably 90 down about
dogs will live out here comfortably all winter Their
holes will DO snug and warm and they aro not troubled
with malaria"