The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-30
TRACKS IN The SNOW.
How to Tell the Kind Of Animal That
Made Them-Squirrel, Rabbit,
Coon and Skunk Tracks.
By Prof. Surface. Of state College.

By Prof. Surface, OF State College.
To the country boy nothing is more
familiar than the various kinds OF
tracks of animals In the snow, but here
the city boy Is at disadvantage, and
his knowledge on this subject Is con-
sequently limited. Yet the hunter who
is so skillful that he can follow the
tracks of an individual animal among
those made by his companions cannot
always tell why certain differences eX-
list, although he may be able to point
out what they are. No person knows 1t
all, and since this is Il subject not dis
cussed in books 1t is fruitful and in
teresting source of information by di-
rect observation.
Commence with the cat and dog.
Let each walk in the snow. What diff
ferences in their tracks besides size?
The cats tracks are round and stubby
and no nail or claw prints are to be
seen, while in the dogs tracks the
claws show at the front of each toe
Why Is this? The cat seizes it's prey
with its claws, and to keep them as
sharp as knives or needles nature has
made them retractile and has provided
them with sheaths, as Il razor blade is
protected in it's handle, hence no claw
prints in the cats track. Now what
differences between the tracks Of the
front and hind foot of each? Not only
those OF size and shape, but also there
is one more toe print on one than on
the other. Which has the greater num-
ber, and Why? The front foot has five
toes and the hind foot has but four
The front foot Is used in catching prey,
"a Ita rn.at a ~ Ia rf n.
al toes it has the more certain can be
native animals make tracks like these
animals, and why? The fox makes
tracks like those of the dog and the
wild cat, lynx, or catamount makes
tracks like those of the domesticated
cat, because each of these wild animals
is closely related in structures func-
tions, and habits, to the respectively
named domestic animals. Thus zoolog-
ical classification and natural affinities
are expressed in the form of the track.
All persons know that the hind feet
of Il rabbit are much larger than are
the front feet, but only hunters know
that the tracks that are in front or
at ends Of the arms of the "V" of q
rabbits track are made by the ami
mails hind feet, and the hindermost
tracks, or those at the point or apex
of the ~" are made by the front feet.
Why is this? Few persons know, and
in fact we do not know Of It's positively
having been published in any book or
paper, that the members of the rab-
bit and squirrel families never move
In any other manner than by hops or
jumps. In jumping the small forefeet
are pressed closely together and the
larger hind feet are thrown around
and in front of these, at each side, and
the animal then springs by using
chiefly the muscles Of the hind limbs.
Thus the tracks of the squirrel and
rabbit are similar enough to denote
their geological affinites but there are
striking differences. Owing to the
fact that the squirrel is smaller than
the rabbit and its hind limbs are not
as strong. it does not jump as far and
its tracks are consequently closer to-
2ether. Its legs are much shorter,
and hence 1t cannot spread its hind feet
SO far apart ur make its track so wide.
Also. it's booy is so low that it often
dips into tlr snow and makes n par
tial impression IN addition to the foot
prints. In running IL squirrel does not
press its front feet so closely together
as does IL rabbit. and hence the posi-
tion of their tracks would correspond
with those of the lower points OF the
letter 'W.' while the positions OF the
hind feet, which are thrown in front
correspond with the outer ends or the
arms of the same letter.
Mice and rats belong TO the great
order of rodents and consequently are
jumpers, but their tracks can be
known by their small size and the trail
OF the tail left in the snow at each
jump. The muskrat leaves n conspicu-
Gus trail between it's tracks, which
alternate in its walking and running.
The racoon moves by jumps, and its
tracks are always in pairs and about
equal distances apart, fiat footed, with
heel and toes plainly shown. Skunks
make their tracks very close together
on account of their very short legs.
They always walk, and as Il conse-
quence their tracks are always alter
nate rather than in pairs. They have
the appearance Of mere rows of stumpy
holes, such as might be made by the
ends OF a mans fingers.