Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-29
ITO be Continued
WILD CREATURES.
Much Charm In the Study of Them In
Native Haunts.

Much Charm In the Study of Them In
Native Haunts.
There is a peculiar charm and in
teEest in the study of the homes Of
wild creatures. Their efforts and the
results in building these, even If
crude, appeal to our sympathies.
We have admired, and to some ex-
tent have Investigated, the nests Of
the more familiar birds: we have seen
the squirrel make his home iE some
dead tree or hollow limb; we have,
perhaps, studied the muskrat and his
peculiar dome-shaped houses Few
people, however, have had the oppor-
tunity of giving the matter extended
study.
Among birds, the home of the bald
eagle is perhaps the most striking,
possibly because of the majesty Of the
bird itself. 1t appeals to the imagin-
ation Built of huge sticks loosely
interviewer, and situated on some lof-
ty and inaccessible ledge, with the
bones of the eagles victims scatter
ed round about, it gives a proper set
ting to the stern and savage charac-
ter OF its builder. Here the eagle
reigns SUPP eme, and here year after
year he and his mate rear their young.
This Is the aerie from which he can
scan the whole countryside and, like
tine robber barons of old, levy toll on
all who pass his door.
Far in the still, white north, where
winter rcigns supreme, is the home of
the polar bear. When the long arc
tic night approaches the bear retires
to some sheltered spot, such as the
cleft of a rock or the foot Of some
precipitous bank. In a very short
time he is effectually concealed by
the heavy snowdrifts. Sometimes the
bear waits until after a heavy fall of
snow, and then digs a white cavern
of the requisite form and size. Such
is his home for six long months.
Our common little cottontail, or So
called rabbit, does not live in a bur-
row, as does the English rabbit, but
makes a slight depression in the
ground. in which she lies so fatty
pressed to the earth as to be scarcely
distinguishable from the soil and the
dried herbage in which her abode is
situated The rabbit is strongly at
tached to it's home, wherever it may
be placed, and, even If driven to a
great distance from it, contrives to
regain its little dOmicile at the earli-
est opportunity.
One of the most grewsome among
animal homes is the VOLTS den. This
is simply a hole dug in the side of
bank or a small natural cave, gener-
ally situated on the sunny side OF
ridge and almost hidden by bushes
and loose bOulders. Here the wolf
lies snug; in and about his doorway
lie the remains of past feasts, which,
coupled with his own odor. makes
the VOLTS den a not very inviting
place. Nevertheless. there is some
thing so dread and mysterious about
this soft-footed marauder that it even
lends a fascination to his home.
A "ny-by-night" sort of home Is
that of our friend the bob-white; yet
1t seems to serve the purpose very
well. Under the broad. low bough of
a small pine or cedar tree the flock
take their nights repose. Quail, in
retiring, always sit in a circle with
their heads outward, and so they rest,
presenting a barricade of sharp eyes
and sharper ears against possible dan
ger.
The home of the elegant little har-
vest mouse next claims our attention.
1t is built upon three or four rank
grass stems and is situated a foot or
so from the ground In form 1t is
SlObular and about four inches in di-
ameter. 1t is composed Of thin dry
grass, as of nearly uniform substance,
and open and airy in construction. II
shows great cleverness in this little
animal, which is the smallest of mann
mails.
The winter home of the American
red deer is very interesting. When
the snow begins to fly the leader OF
the herd guides them to some shelter
ed spot where provender is plentiful.
Here. as the snow falls. they pack 1t
down, tramping out considerable
space. while about them the snow
mounts higher and higher until they
cannot get out if they would. From
the main opening. or yard" as ii is
called, tramped-out paths lead to the
nearby trees and ahrubbery. which
supply them with food. In this way
they manage to pass the winter IN
comparative peace and safety.
One could go on enumerating bird
and animal homes by the score, and
they would all be of interest. The
present space. however. will not per-
nit of going further. The writer has.
therefore, simply described some of
the more curious of the homes, as
we'll as those presenting the widest
Contrast.-St. Nicholas