Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-25
Some Furry Folks.
THE mNK-rnE RABBIT AND THE ro'

n line, dark brOWns luTreu CftaluTti hp- ]
pearing almost black against the white
snow, with a bright, dark eye, short cars
perkod forward, his fur fairly glistening in
the sunlight. Occasionally he rises on his
launches, looking eagerly about, aud using
every sense he possesses 10 direct him to-
wards his game Not finding what he
wants at the river, be ascends the high |
woodland bank Of the stream. The wood
here is thickct of huckeberry bushes,
birchcs, barberry bushes, and bull.briar.
Across our way under the birches, on
through the underbrush are tracks Of a
rabbit As the creature jumps it throws
its hind feet in advance of the fore feet,
the latter often seeming like one track in
the snow, they fall so near together. One
unacquainted with their manner Of travel |
ing, would almost invariably mistake the
direction in which the animal moved.
Following the rabbits track, we find the
timd creature has Travelled several times in
the same beat stopping occasionally to gnaw
off delicate twigs Among these tracks the
mink dashes about in various directions,
like dog beating the cover to start his
game. Soon he hurries on through the
thickset huckleberry bushes, under the low,
dropping boughs Of the cedar, and now into
the thickot of bull-briar, where the thorny
bramble prevents our following Around
on the other side we see where he came out
but here goes with his track that of a rab
bit. Before we follow these footprints, we
will step back into the bull-briars to see
where the rabbit started from.
Under the thickest part Of the over ying
vines is 4 little spot bare of snow, about
the size of two hands. This is called a
form. Whether the ground is made bare
by the warmth from the rabbits body, or
the snow is first scraped away by his paws,
| am ignorant, but here was where the
creature sat 10 fancied security until the
mink found him, for rabbits rarely move
in the daytime unless disturbed aud nearly
all the tracks we have just seen were prob
ably made after the storm had ceased at
night, and when the moon shone out from
behind the fleeing clouds, painting on this
snowy surface the weird shadows of leaf
less tree rnd startled animal
Again we follow on; the rabbit travel
ing by leaps widely separated, the mink in
close pursuit, little to the leeward Of the
rabbits track. Out of the thickot, up into
the open wood, down the opposite side Of
the hill, in and around the swamp several
times apparently, we trace them. till, leav.
ing this with a tremendous bound, the rab-
bit speeds away to the rocky hillside. In
this last race is a desperate struggle for
life; and we see, finally, that both tracks
end in the crevice of this riven ledge, where
the hardy winter ferns reach out from I'M
der their snowy covering towards the light.
After the mink has secured his prey and
satisfied his hunger, he frequently takes a
nap beside the body Of his victim, no pangs
Of conscience disturbing his repose. But
=. his restless, voracious nature will not leave
him quiet long; so that if he is to be cap
tured the trap must be set soon. Just al
the entrance Of the crevice is the bes
, place for it, carefully concealed under dry
leaves aud ferns, and secured by stou
Q string or chain to a tree or root. CoulC
t we see this creature toward nightlall emery
S ing from the rocky cleft, the sharp repor
G of the trap when it springs and holds hi
delicate foot between its jaws, our sense o
justice might be appeased. When caught
the fury Of mink is startling, their hissin
}. scream at FIRST repelling both man and dog
Ohentmes all their long sharp teeth vii
c be found broken of in the combat with tn
is trap that binds them, aud this complet
g ferocity lasts as long as life, Frequent
the trap is dragged into the burrow or GREY
D, ice, aud twitch Of the string brings th
furious creature. if alive, bounding int
a your face, when a well-direeted blow 500
If ends all. The fur Of the mink is valuable
and fancy many of its wearers would /
e. surprised if they could see the blood-thirst
!" little villain to whom they are indebted f
their comfort.
sr The rabbit seems singularly defeuseles
IN his only chance for escape resting in h
ID speed but with creatures like the mir
aud small weazel, this is futile. Althoug
DO the rabbit travels much faster than eth
err of these enemies, they follow, apparent
ne incapable of fatigue, until the rabbit, veal
ID from pursuit, seeks his retreat, and thu
&c the matter is speedily settled. Each ra
of or path of his own and when startled vi
It, bound away, then double on his track al
at come back to his old beat again. The co
~ does not seem to trouble him, for he W
sit on the snow where the wind nweeps
nc toughest, with ears laid back, apparent
as perfectly comfortable.
er During the day they remain in the
le forms, which are merely favorite spo
y, where they sit almost motionless but
r. soon as night comes on they begin the
at timid wanderiugs, nervously beating al
10 feeling the air for danger with their lol
ears and curling, quivering nostrils. Q
III ten, if only disturbed and not frightened,
o. rabbit will strike the ground with his hil
,h feet, making a sound like the stamping
foot but when thoroughly scared,
er will spring fall two yards at bound, al
IN almost invariably makes for his retrea
iy which, from any quarter. he seems to kno
be exactly how to find
Coming out on the open meadow we FL
n the tracks Of fox, much like those Of
1t. small dog Last night the creature "
ot here digging for mice among the sno'
~ covered nhssOcks. his TRACKS VIM ne
ad and there, occasionally showing US where h
tenantless nest is scattered on the sno
ht This snowy waste, softened by the moo
y" light, must have presented scene
nd strange, fantastic beauty. Had We be
ed near here then we could have seen II
creature come out Of the wood with a s
ay trot, aud down to the meadow, where
as knows these mice are to be found. Til
suddenly stopping, he would turn his he
AT on one side to listen, till, satisfied that
ht prey was there, he made a pounce wi
nose and fore-paws, quickly dragging fro
nd its warm nest of grass the object of |
ey search. We eau trace his steps for 10
dy distance in the meadow, until at last tn
turnup the hillside among the short grow
ch Here is a confusion Of tracks, aud scatter
he over the snow are the feathers of partrid
lat that the fox probably dragged from its Il
nd perch, and deyoured, leaving nothing b
ad the feathers as a witness against him. l
he yond this the footprints wind up towar
the high lodges. On the sunny side Of Il
lrt hill we would probably find him stretch
At out, basking and blinking in the supshil
Ter The creature chooses this high ground e
rs, IDENTIFY as lookout and place Of safe
ess But the hounds are not out to-day, and
old he can rest upmolested and if they we're