Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-03-25
THE SWIFT.
A Texas Animal That Can Run Away From
Bullet.

THE SWIFT.
4 Texas Animal That Can Run Away From
Bullet.
Having always felt an interest in
animal life, I made the best of re-
cent opportunity to learn what /
could about an animal which Is, so
far as I have been able to ascertain,
unknown to the authors Of zoologi-
cal works, at least by the name un-
der which the animal is known
where I found 1t. The quadruped Of
which I write is found on certain
portions of the stakcd plains Of
western Texas and Is known there
as the swift, name which but fee.
bly, expresses tho running qualities
Of the animal. The name swift is
also applied to certain birds and liz
ards, but it is also the only name
by which this fleet footed animal of
the plains is known.
Any description of the swift must
from the animals nature be incom-
plete, for swift is always on the
move when a human being comes
within range of his vision, and it Is
claimed by the people who live on
the plains that a swift has never
been captured. This claim may be
untrue, but as a circumstance going
to show the wild nature of the ami
NAL saw only two of them during
q. four months stay on the plains
In locality where they were said
to be rather numerous.
When I was first told about the
swift, I was inclined, to consider it a
myth. said to the old plainsman
who was telling me a seemingly
miraculous story about its power to
get over ground, docs the swift
have hole in the ground like the
other prairie animals, where he
may hide from pursuers9"
"Holy smokel" calculated the old
man. IA swift would not give his
four legs for the Mammoth cave
when it comes to getting away from
any fool who has little enough sense
to chase him."
1.-THE swift must be pretty good
runner" remarked.
'Runner' snorted the old man.
why, young feller, the swift is the
only varmint on these plains that
can run off and leave rifle ball"
I saw at once that the old fellow
had great faith in the swift's pow
ers Of locomotion. but it was not un-
til I saw one splitting the atmos-
phere across the plains, rapidly put
ting distance between himself and
me, until he faded away on the ho-
azon Of the level prairie, that
s'''ly realized the force Of the old
n. is remarks. had seen an ante
lope pursued by pack Of hungry
wolves, and I had witnessed some
pretty good horse races, but that
swift's burst Of speed against time
was the greatest run I ever beheld.
When the cowboys afterward told
me that the fastest horse on foot
could not catch the swift, readily
believed them.
This phenomenal f1ier of the
plains resembles the fox somewhat,
but is taller and longer than Rey-
nard, having the same bushy tail.
The thing that first comes into ones
mind at sight Of swift is the fact
that the animal is constructed espe-
cially for the purpose of running,
and that nothing has been omitted
from Its make up that would en-
nance its ability to cover distance.
The second swift saw, as we'll as
the first, was running when I first
saw him and engaged in the same
business when last beheld him.
Thousands Of cowboys and ranch
men on the plains will bear testimo-
ny to the fact that the swift can
outrun the feetest horse. I saw a
young Kentuckian who had chased
swift on thoroughbred from the
blue grass country. He said of the
chase:
when started, I thought was
chasing young wolf, but before
the chase ended I concluded that
was on the track, of streak of light.
ming that had taken on the form Of
a wolf to test the speed of my
horse"
ibid you catch the swift" ask
ed.
Il did not stay within sight Of it
for more than three minutes, was
the reply.-Frank Andrews in st.
Louis Globe Democrat.
Recalling q Letter.
A woman who tried to recall a
letter the other day that had left