Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-01-22


prints in the right alternating with those
on the left, so that "a line connecting all
the tracks would form n regular zig gag. |
There VIII be no claw marks visible. |
but If the snow Is not too deep the marks !
of the toes will be plain enough. After u |
time. il may he found that the foot |
prints are no longer in double rows, but
arc ranged In groups of four each group
separated from the next by several feet |
of unbroksn snow. Ii the four foot prints
are closely examined, it will be found
that two Of them show the marks OF five
tocs. If the student continue to follow
the trail 1t will eventually lead him into
a garden and probably to the back door
of a house. when he will discover that
he has been making notes OH the trail of
the household cat. Where the tracks led
through the bushes and along the tops OF
stone walls, the footprints were in a.
double row, because puss was walking;
out, nearing home she had become alarm
ID at the barking Of dog or had heard
her mistress calling her to be fed and,
bursting into Il gallon, had left her foot
prints In groups Of -four. The tracks OF
wild cats and other members of the feline
race resemble those of the domestic cat,
the chief difference being in the size.
The tracks of most dogs may be dis
tinRuished from those Of the hol.ae
cat by their greater size alone, but
dog tracks also show the marks of the
claws. while cat tracks do not The
talons of cats. being designed for catch
Ing ana holding struggling prey. are re-
CURED to be- sharp and are sheathed ey-
ccpt when in actual use, but the claws
Of dogs are strong and blunt, and require
no sheath to Keep them in condition for
the rough uses To- which they are put
The footprints of foxes and wolves are
similar To those of small and large dogs
respectively.
Tho tracks Of rabbits and squirrels
] hit.
grouls Of four, two large ones, wide
apart IN front. and two smaller ones
close together. behind. There should be
no difficulty in distinguishing rabbit
tracks from squirrel tracks, for as rule
the arc several marked differences I'm
| the nrst place tho rabbit tracks are as
a rule very much larger and owing to
| h,nnys greater lenpng POWERS tho
groups uf four are further apart. Then
the rabbit having longer hind legs than
the squirrel spreads his hind feet more.
and thus makes wider trail. The red
squirrels and gray squirrels make tracks
OF 4 similar pattern, but the red is 81
much smaller than the gray that there is
little danger OF nistaking the footprints
| of either. In leaping along rabbits ana
Squirrels throw their large hind feet out
| aidc and in front Of their smaller fore
| feet at each leap; that Is wh! "" lind
the large Prints In front of he small
ones in each group of four
Norway rats and many of our wild
| mice also proceed 10y leaps az a rule
but their tracks arc So small that of
/ course they need never he mistaken for
! those Of squirrels. The meadow mouse.
81 far as have observe does not leap.
but runs along with short quick STEPS,
| and when there is snow upon tho ground.
! tunnels 1t in every direction often raising
distinct ridges on the surface.
/ The muskrat's trail, which is usually
/ found near water of some kind. may
| be Identified by the characteristic shapes
! of the footmarks. and by the sharp limo
running between them. made by the
knife edged tail which draBs on tho
ground.
Tho trail of mink in deep snow is Of
ten little more than channel such as
would lie made by dragging the end Of
a narrow board. The trail Of an otter
is similar hut wider. Both these ami
mails have long bodies and very short
legs and as their bodies sink in the deep
snow the foot prints are often quite OBJ
liberated
The racooon if not in Il great hurry
usually walks through the snow. II the
latter is deep the trail will consist of two
rows of foot marks. all about the SANE
size. alternating right and left like those
/ Of - cat, Int larger. The reason that
they are all about the same size is that
at each step the hind foot falls into and
fore foot If the snow is shallow, the
| hind loot as Il rule will be pla ced aong
side of the fore foot and the tracks VIII
be in pairs. one large and one small one
in each pair, corresponding to the hind
and fore foot respectively.
Tho skunk usually walks but like the
raccoon hc can gallop when he will
, When walking he makes a trail with two
parallel rows of footprints. ali of which,
in light snow, show tho marks OF the
toe-nails very distinctly
ERNEST HAROLD BhTNES.