Vast cities, with regularly laid streets, are often met with in
extensive level spots on the prairie. The inhabitants are, however, not
men, but creatures the size of a guinea-pig--rodents--a species of
marmot. In their habit of associating together in communities, they put
us in mind of the industrious beaver; but they are idle little fellows,
evidently liking play better than work. Their heads are not unlike
those of young terrier-pups, and their bodies are of a light brown
colour. They have little stumpy tails, which, when excited, they
constantly jerk up and twist about in a curious fashion. Their
habitations are regular cones raised two or three feet above the ground,
with a hole in the apex, which is vertical for the depth of two or three
feet, and then descends obliquely into the interior. From the peculiar
yelp or short squeaky bark which they give, the hunters call them
prairie-dogs.
In each separate community, which consists of many thousand individuals,
there is a president dog, who seems to have especial charge of the rest.
As a stranger approaches, the creatures who are out of their houses
scamper back as fast as their legs will carry them, and concealing all
but their heads and tails, utter loud barks at the intruder. This done,
the greater number dive out of sight with a curious somersault, their
little tails whisking in the air. The chief dog, and perhaps two or
three other sentinels with him, remain on the tops of their houses
barking lustily till the enemy gets within a few paces of them, when
they also disappear, and the town remains silent and deserted. The
traveller who wishes to observe their habits, by lying concealed and
silent for a few minutes, may see after a time some little fellow pop
his head out of his house, when he gives a few barks. It serves as a
signal to the rest that danger has disappeared, and immediately the
others emerge from their houses and begin to frisk about as usual.
The holes of these curious creatures are shared by two very different
species of guests, one of which, at all events, must prove most,
unwelcome. One of these is a little owl, which may be seen sitting in
front of the burrows or flying about near the ground; or, when the sun
sinks low, hopping through the town, and picking up the lizards and
chameleons which everywhere abound. He can apparently do no harm to the
inhabitants, if he fails to benefit them. The other inmates are
rattlesnakes, who, regardless of any objections which may be raised by
the dogs, take possession of their holes, and when the sun shines lie
coiled up at their sides, now and then erecting their treacherous heads
and rattling an angry note of warning, should a thoughtless pup by any
chance approach too near. The Indians suppose that all three creatures
live on the most friendly footing; but as the rattlesnakes when killed
have frequently been found with the bodies of the little prairie-dogs in
their insides, their object in establishing themselves in the locality
seems very evident.
The poor little dog, indeed, leads a life of constant alarm, with
numerous enemies ever on the watch to surprise him. Hawks and eagles,
hovering high in air, often pounce down and carry off unfortunate
members of the community in their powerful talons. The savage cayote,
or prairie-wolf, when pressed by hunger during the winter, frequently
attacks the dome-shaped habitation of the little animal, and with claws
and teeth tears to pieces the walls, plunging his nose into the passage
which he has opened, and working his way down till he seizes the
trembling little inmate, who in vain retreats to the inmost recesses of
his abode.
It has been supposed that the prairie-dog hibernates; but this is not
the case, though he lays in a store of provision for winter
consumption--he being as lively at that period as at any other, though
he wisely prefers keeping within the house while the icy blasts blow
across the plains. The creature is especially tenacious of life, and
even when shot through the body will manage to gain his burrow at rapid
speed. He does not run into it, but, like the rabbit, he makes a jump
in the air, turns what looks like a somersault, and, flourishing his
hind-legs and whisking his tail, disappears as if by magic. In an
instant afterwards, however, his little sparkling eyes and nose may be
seen above the ground; and if no stranger is in sight, he, with the rest
of the community, will commence gambolling and frisking about, forgetful
of his numerous foes and previous alarm. It is very difficult to obtain
a specimen of the prairie-dog, as, even if mortally wounded, he
generally tumbles into his hole before being captured. The inhabitants
of the plain, however, manage to catch the animal alive by dragging a
cask of water to one of their holes which does not communicate with the
rest of the village. They then pour the water down the hole, either
drowning the creature or compelling him to come out. He is very soon
reconciled to a state of captivity, and after two days appears on the
most intimate terms with his captors. Even when turned loose again the
creatures will not leave the neighbourhood of the house, but burrow
under the foundation, making themselves quite at home, and fearlessly
come out to be fed when summoned by a whistle. They become, indeed,
very interesting and pretty little pets.
We shall meet with a similar animal on the pampas of South America, and
which has also the companionship of a little owl.
There are several other species of marmot in America. One is called the
Quebec Marmot, which lives a solitary life, making an almost
perpendicular burrow in dry ground at a distance from water.
The beautiful little, often-tamed Woodchuck, is another American marmot.
It makes a deep burrow in the sides of hills, lining the chamber at the
inner end with dry leaves and grass. It may frequently be seen by the
traveller running rapidly along the tops of fences, as if to keep
company with him--now getting ahead, then stopping and looking back to
see if he is coming, and then going on again, till, growing tired of the
amusement, it gives a last stare and then scampers back the way it has
come.