ch it has been known
to plunder of carrots, turnips, and maize--the stalks of which it cuts
close down to the ground.

It is sought-for on account of its fur, which is very valuable. The
traps are set close to a tree, and when one of the creatures is caught,
its companions will instantly attack it and tear it to pieces.
Generally, however, in its struggles to get free, it carries the trap
under the surface, and is thus drowned.

Audubon, the naturalist, gives us an interesting description of
them:--"They are very lively, playful animals, when in their proper
element--the water--and on a calm night, in a sequestered pool, may
often be seen crossing and recrossing in every direction, leaving long
ripples in the water behind them, while others stand for a few moments
on tufts of grass, stones, or logs, and then plunge over, one after the
other, into the water. At the same time others are feeding on the
grassy bank, dragging off the roots of various kinds of plants, or
digging underneath the edge. These animals seem to form a little
community of social playful creatures, who only require to be unmolested
in order to be happy."

It has been proposed to acclimatise these little rodents in England,
under the idea that thus a valuable addition to the bank fauna of
sluggish English streams would be obtained.

PRAIRIE-DOGS.

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 t