Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-12-09
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW.

When nature spreads a clean sheet
under the dropping branches OF the
cedars and among the naked trunks
in the open woods the northern in
habitants begin at once to imprint it
with records of their activity. The
squirrels must make new paths to
their stores of %beechnuts buried deep
under the white covering. They can
move lightly over the soft snow but
a light track ends in a burrow where
a hiding place has been visited. The
snow packed deep en- an adjacent log
and a few beechnut shells tell where
the visitor has enjoyed a meal. From
,, this the track proceeds with a leisure
ly lope, the hind feet covering the
marks of the fore feet, but a squirrel
does not long continue lsisarely.
More extended leaps show q sudden
haste, and the widely separated hind
feet pass beyond the crowded fore
feet at every bound.
Near tie edge of the cedar swamp
the long, easy loDe OF q mink passes
down the sloping shore toward the
open expense Of ice. The naked
woods and we'll padded rocks are =
ter 'tion to follow. The trac.
L. Tut over the ice, the fore f2et
and obliteratins hind feet SO close
together that they make but a single
impression. TIE courze is toward an
air hole, a popularity Of the ice Oh
the northern lakes, and on the way
the new trail OF a fox is found cross
ing from shore TO shore with matn-
ematical accuracy. The fox laid out
and followed a course across the lake
without deviation or curve, and his
short steps were regulated with his
usual precision. The mink's tracks
lead with less regularity toward the
airhole in the ice, where without hes
itation he plunged in. Coming oat.
he left traces of mud On the ice and
snow. Evidently he diyed to the bot
tom, and as he sat down with wet
coat before starting for the shore he
must have secured a clam, snail or
dead fish.
Near the shore a junco has made
a diminutive imprint on the new page
by hopping among the scattered seeds
Of the silver birch. Sheltered By
crowded spruces on the shore, the
crooked trail Of a partridge winds
/ through the snow. Such walking
must be laborious, for the birds dis
| tended toes sink deep down through
the soft snow, and he wades and wad-
dies along, making a deep groove
with his breast. This track starts
from the half filled hole il which he
alighted and probably spent part CT
the night under cover. 1t was for
/ tunate the fox did not come his way.
Where the short, crooked track ends
there are marks of the Gistcrded tail
feathers and the tapping wings th2t
noisily took the air. The loas leap
of the active hare is seen more fire.
uuertly than any other record On the
new page.
Night is the time Of forest activ-
ity, and the snow that continued to
fall till after dark recorded many i'm
! pressions before the gray Of morning,
The hares had passed and reDassed
elsewhere, the fox had pursued his
solitary hunt for a sleeping partridge
or the fragments of come forest trag-
edy. The partridge had risen from
his snug shelter under the sno and
tried a short walk before seeking a
breakfast Of soft buds in the adjacent
birches. The mink has sought food
over the snow and under the ice.
And over 1t all the still moon looset!
cc!dly down, lighting up the silent
eyranse Of the lake ard tracing an IL
finite t%anglement OF shadows un'io"
the branches burdenel With cllnsiE9G
Enow.--Tornntc Globe,