The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-01
EASY LIFE.
Winter Has Been So Mild Thai Many Have
Made Early Appearance.

The animals that escaped the rigors OF
last winter have had an exceptionally easy
life 90 far this year, which they. certainly
are entitled to.
Many covies Of quail persisted from
cold and hunger last year. Rabbits that
were unable to find o in sufficient guam
titles resorted to orchards and vineyards
and did great damage by gnawing the trees
and vines. Apple trees six inches In diane
ter were completely girdled by meadow
mice and they also ruined many fine beds
Of raspberry and blackberry bushes.
Thus far the winter has been 30 mild
writes a correspondent Of Forest and
Stream, that even woodchuoks and chip
munks have appeared from time to time
Gray squirrels could be found in the woods
on any warm day in December, nuar
and February. Although they seldom
wander far from their holes in the trees at
this season, the tracks Of n were seen in
the mud by the roadside fully half a mile
from the woods.
Skunks have not "denned up" which las
winter they were known to do early in
December, and there was q PERIOD o. SIX
weeks when they did not leave their holes
Nowadays they are out In the fields nearly
every night hunting for mice, and it Is not
at all improbable that by turning over
stones and boards they catch O cricket
or 30, their favorite food.
warm days and many animals were moving
about. aaWoolly BEARS those black and
larvn of the Isabella moth, were partiou-
arly active. The warm weather enticed
them from their hiding places under logs,
were seen hurTying, along the railroad
tracks and country highways in considera-
BILE numbers.
Spiders spun their streamerlike webs
from the ends OF grass stalks and weeds
In some fields these streamer webs were as
abundant as on autumn days. .
A solitary turtle orawled out Of the mud
in the bottom OF a pond or a stream and
wandered down the road, where it was
found by q much astonished oountryman.
might walkers those large earthworms
that in summer come out OF the ground
tured by the fishermen, were also seen.
The few fowls that were fortunate enough
TO catch one seemed to appreciate the un.
expected treat and were jealousy pursued
by their companions.
Waspe were reported from Troy, N. Y,
and butterflies from Rutland. Vt. The
butterflies doubtless were mourning cloak
butterflies. All Of them do not die as win
ter approaches; some hibernate under
stones or board piles, in buildings or other
places WHeT6 JUey Cdu ulb CONol' 1he
butterflies seen probably were some that
had beer deceived by the mild weather
and had taken advantage Of 1t to have an
outing. -.
One would not think that the f~sheswould
be influenced by a warm winter, neverthe-
| less several good strings Of suckers were
| caught In the Owego Creek in early Febru-
airy, although they usually refuse to bite
until after the Ice goes out in March or
April.
More SOM sparrows have wintered over
than usual, and red winged ~blaokbirds,
bluebirds, robbins, g~oldfnohes, belted king
fishers and meadow larks have also been
| seen, still their presence Is nothing unusual,
as they have all been known to remain all
winter when the weather was very severe
The unexpected appearance Of most OF
these animals Is q good illustration Of the
effect of a mild winter on animals. Natures
creatures seem to have been sleeping with
one eye open and the first few warm days
brought many Of them back to active life.
Sportsmen report that numbers OF ruled
grouse lave escaped the hunters, so II the
present weather continues, all game will
get through the winter in good condition
Already the lack Of snow has saved the
| lives OF many rabbits and such fur bearing
animals as skunks, mink, musk rats and
foxes, for without snow the hunters cannot
track them so easily,