Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-08-16
A FEW ANIMAL NOTES
THINGS A CLOSE OBSERVER HAS
FOUND BY EXPERIENCE.

tomethlng About Game Birds.-A
Foxs Brush.-The Vixen.-PecuIiar
Acts Of the Mother Fawn.-ilI
Tempered Horses-Mules are Cads.
Every game bird, In its native
haunts, has a habit of association
which is differently expressed. Thus
Bportsmeu who know, say a bevy of
cartridges, a covey of quail, bunch
Of prairie chicken, plump OF wild
fowl, wisp of teal, either green OF
blue winged, file of geese, a flight
of pigeons, or woodcock, n line OF
snipe. Pheasants are so nearly do
mesticated they are said to come in
clutches, rail and plover in balls, and
cranes and heron in slants.
Everybody knows that fox's tail
Is in hunting parlance his brush, but
few perhaps know further that his
scalp is technically a mask, or that
Il he is superlatively game, 1t is torn
off, nailed on the kennel door OF the
back in at his death, and marked with
three crosses to show that he died
only at the end Of ringing run The
brush, OF course, goes TO whoever is
nearest when 1t is taken. The trophy
next in value is the right forefoot-
In hunting phrase pad thief" The
left forefoot pad mino," ranks next.
After them the hind feet, the pegs
which only very young or very avid
hunters care much to claim
One amazing thing regarding the
eixen--the she fox-is that no dog
will follow her trail while she carries
young. II is uncertain whether she
then leaves no scent, or whether the
dogs obey some primal instinct, in
passing over her track. A certain
consideration for the female Is appar-
ont in most of canine species. One
CT the surest signs of rabies Is for a
dog TO attack bitch of his own spe-
riea.
Fawns when first dropped are for
acme hours unable to stand. The dog
does not remain beside them, but pa
ces slowly around ut u considerable
distance. Every now and then she
gives a little tremnlous bleating call,
at sound of which the fawn lifts it's
head and tries to struggle to its feet
Should a man or dog appear mean
time, the doe runs away In a straight
line but laggingly and hating as
though herself hurt unto death. When
che thinks she has lured the enemy
far enough away, she gives three
great flying leaps which take her at
once out of sight and goes back to her
baby upon sevenleague boots. But
II left undisturbed, she keeps up the
racing until she sees the fawu stand
ing, then PAGES aaintily away in a
straight line choosing always the
easiest grade. AS she PAGES she calls
family and every now and then halts,
looking over her shoulder, to see that
rhe Is followed
III tempered old horses delight to
attack very young foals and will kill
them II permitted. Mules have the
came cheerful habit, unless they arc
under the influence Of the bell mare"
She is the queen Of the hcrd-a kind
~ creature who has grazed and fed
with them, wearing a tinkling bell
about her neck If she snorts de
nance OF anything, all her followers
rush to tho attack. If she shifts toll
erance, they pass it by. In all things
they obey her abjectly. Back in the
cid days when horses and mules
market in droves. the rough riding
lighWayman of that epoch always
tried to capture the bell and make
off with it. knowing that nothing
could keep the drove from following.
Similarly. drovers tried to save the
bell" She was led never ridden,
30 that in event Of attack she might
be fresh for a game run. A light lad
led her-the owner or chief drOver
brought Zip the rear. The lad had
strict orders at the first sign of
trouble to go his very best. caring for
nothing but the bell
Mules are on the whole something
Of Cads They are very proud of their
horse kinfolk and very much asham-
cd Of the other side Of their ancestry.
One horse in lot full of mules is a
royal parsonage. Poor Neddy, con
tiariwise, Is kicked and cuffed and
nipped most cruelty. Exchange.