Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-02
HUNTER FINDS
QUEER ANIMAL
MISSOURI NATURALIsTs ARE
PUZZLED
Creature Has Body Like a Woodchuok,
RudInentsry Wings, Lays Eggs
and suokles lite Youns--AwaIts
Name
speciaf to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
HoGEYE Mo-, Sept. 1.--Pete Elvins
returned last week from a hunting trip
In the Ozark mountains, bringing with
him the most remarkable specimen Of
zoology ever seen In southeastern part
of Missouri Opinions are still divided
as to the classification of the creature.
Strange things ophidian, saurian,
marsupial and, weird birds have been
seen in Missouri, but Pete Elvins' dis
covery is the most puzzling of all. Most
hunters would have killed the animal
but Pete knew better than that.
According to his story Elvins found
the animal while tramping alone
through the mountains. Iii fact, Pete
admits he was not lost. He had crossed
a high divide In the morning and gone
down a gulch In the Ozarks. The hunt
er spent most Of the day trying to
find the place he had crossed. Along
toward evening the man came to a
place where the shelving rocks hung
over the mountain stream. The heavy
limbs met across the stream and
formed a dark and uncanrty spot In the
forest primeval 1t was at this point
Elvins discovered the strange creature
Pete at first thought 1t was an otter,
his error. Pete watched the animal
for some time and determined to eff
feet a capture II possible. This he
eventually did by the simple process
of walking deliberately up and pick
ing the animal up in his hands. Little
resistance was offered. The creature
has never shown any signs of being
wild. Elvins has little more to say
of the capture other than that he made
AI.1 10 lNxryr
and he doesn't believe he can again
find the spot.
Astonishes Biologist
The animal was brought to town the
next day at 10 o'clock, when about
everybody able to get there was at
the postoffice waiting for the. mail.
Pete Elvins walked into the clrcie
made by the prominent citizens who
were discussing burning issues of the
day. Pete was pale and haggard from
hunger and loss of sleep. -,
"By gar, Pete, where you beenT'
asked Pierre Au Buchon.
"I'II tell you all, but I don't allow
you'll believe me-" said Pete. But
rye got sumpin here that may con-
vince you I've been into the back
country"
"What YOU got, Pete? A sun-down
nosslm p, suggested Basil Lamar.
"Maybe you can tell me, I can't
name it." said Pete, fumbling In his
hunting coat pocket for a bulky 'oo-
ject which wriggled and squirmed.
Pete fumbled in his pocket and
dragged out a portion of the rear end
of a furred creature.
''Arctomys monax," said fror.
Morse with conviction.
whats that?" asked Harry Des-
"woodchuck, just common wood
CHI"
The words froze on the professors
lip. His sneer turned to an exclama-
ton of wonder The creature released
it's hold on Pete's hunting coat ana
fell to the ground, w1nk1ng ana phnk-
ing in the sunlight.
Takes Care Of Its Eggs
The animal was about the size OF
common raccoon and indeed the fore
paws were much like those Of that
animal. but there the resemblance
ceased. The rear feet were webbed
like those of a goose, but the most
singular thing about the creature was
its head. The head is narrow and
long and ends in a broad bill like that
of a mallard duck AS the astonished
men looked the animal sat up like
kangaroo and indeed, resembled that
animal considerably. Looking around
furtively at Pete the creature reached
down with its forepaws and extracted
pinkish egg from a pouch on its
belly.
"a marsupial!" shouted the pro-
fessor wildly.
The creature held the egg before 1t
and examined 1t carefully. brushing
off Imaginary specks of dust, then
carefully replaced it.
There were four eggs in the pouch
and the creature examined each In
turn, then replaced them carefully In
the receptacle and proceeded to care
fully groom itself and smooth down its
rumpled fur. 1t was then that the
professor discovered little tufts of
feathers on the creatures shoulders.
"rydimentary WINGS the learned man
declared. He also discovered that the
animal suckles Its young.
Jorge de Bonrcy declares the animal
is a ''ringwaull" and that his ancestors
killed many of them down on the
Restigouche.
Willard Brown of Doe Run thinks
is a e-hll-winder." but this is dis
proven by the fact that all of the an
imaIs legs are the same length
AL Austin says 1t is Swamp Sog-
GIN" and is common down on the Mo-
pang.
Pror. Morse mas ABOUT Settleu tne
controversy by pronouncing the crea-
ture a "duckbill platybus."
For several days after the capture
the platybus made no sound; but FL
wins declares 1t sings at night and is
very initiative He has succeeded in
tea ching the duckbill to render what
Will You DO When the Rent Comes
Round" and Mother. Mother, Mother,
Pin a Rose on Me-
.Ag0AHrM DArrI = AIIru oMAHE