The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-10

| were yellow and red-not the beautiful
glossy colors of the mountain trees,
but the ashy salt air kind. A cooper's
hawk, you know, the 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 dived into that rab-
bit hole which you will find just above
that little bush yonder. The hawk, how
ever, got a nip at the tail with its talon
and the tail has hung sideways ever
since"
Here the narrator paused.
Yes the listener remarked, "but
what has that to do with the remark
able behavior of your pets?
Pardon me. In my sympathy for the
squirrel I 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. the lit
tie bridge and in that maple yonder
a pilcated woodpecker assisted the de-
partment's insect hunters to the extent
of its ability and size of it's digestive
apparatus. Upon that ridge We fire.
quently see bluejays and on one occa-
sion peculiar white headed bird, the
Canada jay, Whiskey jack or meat
hawk, as he is commonly called. That
was a memorable occasion. Seldom are
we honored by such visitors. It looked
at me twice, and I never shall forget
the thrill had, the longing that came
over me to see it in it's native home
away up there among the forest-clad
mountains where the serenity of nature
is not disturbed by--ugh!'
The policeman stopped talking, while
a look If disgust passed over his fea-
lures. A great wagon ratified up the
avenue. When the wagon was out of
sight the cop continued:
Yes, there are strange visitors here.
,sr-t.4 VIy- L. Al. -.
curious stranger voices in the trees,
and family the whir of the wings come
to our ears But really you'll forgot.
l should have told you about our pets
here.
These blue uniforms are still strange
to the eyes of many of the creatures
who have been our constant compan-
ions for years. The old gray color was
so much more appropriate for wander
Ing among the trees. 1t corresponds in
measure to the bark, and, especially
at this time of the year, was incon-
spicuous. We sparrow cops could fit
along-notice I said fit for we are a,
1.-the, thin class of policemen, fitting for
woodsmen-and none could notice us.
Here, Dicky! we would call to the
chicadee in the pines and 1t would
chickle a reply. 'Run!' we would say
to the rabbit, and he would jump side
ways and sit up and wiggle his nose at
US. In the early morning, while others
were sleeping their soundest, we ate
a 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, looking up at the box, at 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 jmcas you know, visited this
place. The chief of the flock, known
by two missing feathers from his tail,
came along. l spoke to him. 1t was
the first time I had seen him SINCE last
winter. He gave a little start and look
ed around. l held out my hand and
tossed him some cracker crumbs. He
hesitated, looked at me again. 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 my leader" Then he sighed.
Its too bad, he remarked dolefully.
why, because they didn't remember
your"
'Oh, no. was thinking of that crook
ed-tailed squirrel over there. You see
when squirrels run they stretch their
tails out straight, and when they turn
they bend their tail around and that
steers them, but that squirrel there has
to head about six points west O. nor
west when he wants to reach a place
six rods north in hurry Poor fell
low!' and then roundsman came in
sight, and the acquaintance passed on,
viewing the squirrels with new interest.