The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
PARK POLICE NATURALIST.
Tells the Queer Effect the Change i'm Uni.
forms Had on the Animals.

49, A'N 49, 800
forms Had ON the Animals.
The Central Park policeman stationed at the
West Tooth street entrance. whose ambition to
be made the Park naturalist is well known to his
associates. stood by one OF the stone pillars at
his post yesterday stroking the left end OF his
mustache with his right foreflnger. A acquain-
tanco CANT to n stop beside the policeman and
waited expectantly and with patience. At last
the policeman heaved a sigh. then remarked:
Have you observed the remarkable be-
havior of our pets 2"
The acquaintance said sadly that he was not
OF the observing kind.
Il have. Do you know. they are only just
getting acquainted with us again Do you see
that large. tlnely-formed buck gray squirrel
thereP Not the one with the reddish breast
and stomach. but that one whose tail crooks
sharply to one side about two inches from the
tail. Poor fellow! l remember the day he got
1t. It was last fall. The leaves were yellow
| and red-not the beautiful glossy colors of the
mountain trees. but tho ashy salt air kind. A
cooper's hawk. you know. tho round-tailed
hawk with aggressive motions and sneering
face. came along. flying low to the ground. and
very swiftly. The squirrel there saw him. and
Owed into that rabbit hole which you will find
just above that little bush yonder. The hawk.
however. got a nip at the tail with its talon
and the tail has hung sideways ever since"
Hero the narrator paused.
Yes" the listener remarked. but what has
that to do with the remarkable behavior Of
your pets?"
Pardon me. In my sympathy for the squir-
rel 1 quite forgot the point at issue. You see.
We get acquainted with all our neighbors here.
There used to be a chipmunk down there by
pilcated woodpecker assisted the departments
insect hunters to the extent OF its ability and
s sidee 0 We i fTeS %isHtifyvs sec epB BIae3sys and UdPo on t one
occasion a peculiar white-headed bird: the
occasion. Seldom are we honored by such Wis
itors. It looked at me, twice and | shall never
over me to see it in its native home away up
there among the forest-c!ad mountains where
S nEhi serenity OF nature is not disturbed by
The policeman stopped talking. while a look
wagon ratified up the avenue. When the wagon
was out OF sight the cop continued:
Yes. there are strange, visitors, here, Some
come at night. We hear their curious stranger
voices in the trees, and family the whlr of
their wings come to our ears; But really
These blue uniforms are still strange to the
eyes of many OF the creatures who have been
our constant companions for years. The old
gray color was 80 much more appropriate for
wandering a IN ,hn the trees emi It Gorreiipo IN in
time of the year. was inconspicuouS. We spar;;
row cops could fit along-notice l said fit
for we are q 1.-the. thin class of policemen.
fitting for woodsmen-and mono, would notice
us. Here. Dicky!' We would call TO the chica-
reply. Run! we would say to the rabbit. and
he would Jump sideways and sit up aud wiggIe
his nose at us. We knew them all and they
knew us. In the carly morning. while others
were sleeping their soundest. we ate n little
lunch together. They did not come to all of
us graycoats. but to those they knew;
There came a change. We had to put on
these blue uniforms. Our summer, pets used
to come along their trails from branch to
branch, or down, on the ground. LOCKING Ypat
the box. ar the street all, around. We held out
our hands. and they flew away wildly and
in fear. We Were strangers. The other day a
flock of snowbirds. the slate.colored Jimcas
you know. visited this place. The chief of the
flock. known by two missing feathers from his
tail. came along. | spoke to him. II was the
first time | had seen him since last winter. He
gave n little start and looked around. l held
out my hand and tossed him some cracker
crumbs. He. hesitatcd. looked at me ngain.
then flew away, with his whole family. He
didn't know me"
The policeman said nothing for awhile.
Watching the squirrels as they played follow
nv leader" Then he sighed:
Its too bad" he remarked doleful!y.
why, because they didn't remember you p
"Oh. no. was thinking ofthat crook ed-tai!ed
squirrel over there. You see when squirrels run
they stretch their tails out straight, and when
they turn they bend their tail around and thar
steers them, but that squirrel there has to
wants to reach n place six, rods north in a
hurry. Poor fellow" and then a roundsman
came in sight, and the acquaintance passed on.
viewing the squirrels with new interest.