The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-02-26
A WOODLAND TRAGEDY.


Nothing is more interesting to a
lover of outdoor life than the self
written histories of wild animals that
may be read in their footprints in
the snow in the winter time. BY
following these tracks one can gain
n clearer insight into the lives Of
these seldom seen denizens of the f0r-
est than can be had in any other way
short of actual observation
The fox and the skunk respectively
are the greatest nocturnal wanderers.
Often | have followed the track of the
latter, an interesting and much ma
ligned animal. and | have come to the
conclusion that many of his journeys
nave been taken merely for exercise,
for ] have frequently seen where he
had left his den and travelled for some
distance without apparent object and
then returned to his hole.
My interest i'm n skunk's track has
waned since the day trailed one into
hollow rotten log which caved In as
| stepped upon it. letting me down
upon the skunk. who was still inside.
He resented my sudden appearance in
his characteristic manner. and | made
n hasty exit from the scene II was
quite impossible for me 80 be self.
concoited for several days thereafter.
But fox track, am afraid to s3y
how many miles have wandered
while following these, to me, most tas.
cinating footprints.
Hero he dug hole into this rotten
log In search of grubs here he dashed
up and down this old fence in a vain
effort to capture a red QuiTcl whose
footprints we can see on the rails. AMI
who finally found q safe refuge in this
hollow log; and further on We find
where Reyrarl made a Getour into
cOrnfield. where he burrowei into
shock in search Of field mice.
One incident showing how foxes
hunt in couples was SO interesting 20
me that venture to set It down.
was out rabbit hunting ono win
ter afternoon with n beagle. but.
though the dog soon started the game.
| found | was not to secure a shot. as
the little animal wisely kept within
ct; and after long wait | decided
that if was 10 dine OFF "Brer Rabbit"
| would have to hunt up another mem.
ber of the family.
Half q mile away knew where one
had its burrow AT the foot of a large
maple. He had been waxing fat all
winter on our sweet corn, and In inn
uin Ia. lot
roasted to a rich brown, and | licked
my lips in anticipation.
Herein, however. ! was doomed. TO
disappointment, for on peering
around clump of evergreens near the
hole ! saw more expert hunter hal
been there before me | walked up to
the burrow and spent some time ey-
amining the tracks around It, anJ this
was the result of my observation:
The previous night two foxes had
come along the lower log read which
left the forest at point near the bur
row. They had been travelling in
single file foY-iashion, number two
stepping into the footprints of number
one. When they had reached a point
few rods from the hole they either
saw or scented the rabbit, for both
had dropped fiat in the snow and
crawled forward few yards to the
shelter of a hillock. where they evi
IDENTIFY laid their plans for the capture
of bunny, who was out in the corn
field eating what proved to be his last
meal.
From the hillocli one fox crept for
ward pushing the light snow up in
front OF him, so that he must have
been completely hidden from view. In
this manner he made his way onward
till within ten feet of the hole, when
he made a couple of bounds that had
brought him on top of It.
In the meantime the second fox had
made a long circuit over the hill ami
crept down upon the intended victim
from whom he was hidden by a rail
fence, When opposite bunny, AMI
about 20 yards away, Reynard had
stepped through the fence ANA bound.
ed forward toward the prey. whom he
evidently expected to come upon IN
aWaIos.
"Brer Rabbit" however was not 20
be caught mapping; with q rush and q
double he had aicd his foe and shot
of in TIE direction Of his burrow.
the hungry fox close behind; ana
down across the field they had sped.
covering eight or ten feet at every
lean.
Poor bunny! How was ho 90 know
that in fleeing 10 his burrow. which
had always proved a safe refuge, ho
was sealing his lato. Down TO the
fence. through it, into WOODS and up
10 within ten feet of the burrow, and
the rabbit'e track went 10 farther
The waiting fox had sprung ont to
meet bin. There was a trampled spot
in the snow, a little bunch Of g;ay
fur and single drop of blood.
That was all, yet a whole wood
land tragedy was written in these foot,
prints in the fcrest.-Correspo
in Forest ard Stream.