Evening star., 1909-03-13
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW.
What Happens When Nature Spreads
Clean Sheet on Earth.
From the Toronto Globe

FrOm tne IOrOntO GlODe.
When nature spreads a clean sheet un-
der the dropping branches of the cedars
and among the naked trunks in the open
woods the northern Inhabitants begin
at once to imprint 1t 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 light track ends in a bur-
row where hiding place has been Wis
tied. The snow packed deep on an ad-
tacent log and a few beechnut shells
tell where the visitor has enjoyed a
meal. From this the track proceeds
with a leisurely lope, the hind feet
covering the marks Of the fore feet,
but a squirrel does not long continue
a sudden haste. and the widely separa ted
hind feet pass beyond the crowded fore
feet at every bound.
Near the edge Of the cedar swamp
the long, easy lope of mink passes
down the sloping shore toward the open
expanse of ice. The naked woods and
Well-padded rocks are. temptation to
follow. The track leads out over the
Ice. the fore feet and obliteratinE hind
feet so close together that they make
but a single impression. The course Is
toward an air hole, a popularity Of the
ice on the northern lakes. and on the
way the new trail Of a fox is found
crossing from shore to shore with math-
ematical accuracy. The fox laid out and
followed a course across the lake with
out deviation or curve, and his short
steps were regulated with his usual pre-
csion. The mink's track leads with
less regularity toward the airhole in
the ice, where without any hesitation
he plunged In Coming out. he left
traces of mud on the ice and snow.
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 junco has made
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 partridge winds through the snow.
Such walking must be laborious, for
the birds distended toes sink down
and waddles along. making deep
groove with his breast This track
starts from the half-flled hole in which
he alighted and probably spent part Of
nate the fox did not come his way.
Where the short, crooked track ends
there are marks of the distended tail
feathers and the tapping wings that
noisily took the air. The long leap OF
the active hare is seen more frequently
than any other record on the new page.
Night is the time Of forest activity.
and the snow that continued to fall till
after dark recorded many impressions
before the gray of morning The hares
the fox has pursued his solitary hunt
for a sleeping partridge or the frag-
ments Of some forest tragedy. The
partridge has risen from his snug shell
ter under the show 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 un-
der the ice. And over 1t all the still
moon looked coldly down. lighting UP
the silent expanse of the lake and trac-
ing an infinite tanglement of shadows
under the branches burdened with cling
ing snow.