Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1912-04-12

twenty-four hours.
Across the snow-covered field at the
edge Of the woods you trail the ia.
niliar tracks Of the little cottontail
'abbit. BY their side, and occasional
joining and obliterating them, are
he accusing footprints of that mis-
'hievous pointer pup, who should
nave been tied up in the barn. About
small clump of swaying weed-stalks
Ire the four-barred prints of such
hardy birds as juncos, red-polls, and
he larger blue-jays and crows. A pow.
1ery mass of loosened snow comes
sitting down from the topmost bough
Of an evergreen at the forest edge, as
a large snowy owl flies noiselessly
back into the silent woods. Driven
rom his summer hunting grounds at
The far north. by the icy hand of win.
:er he will levy toll from squirrels,
grouse and rabbits, before taking his
departure for more congenial climes
1t the coming of spring. His hunting
Is methodical and constant. With set.
iilent, wings, he swoops suddenly down
1pon his victim, like some great
white specter Of the forest. Little
round pellets Of hair, feathers and
bones found on the snow beneath his
'avorite perch, indicate the fate Of his
unfortunate prey. Fierce, rapacious
and Unsuitable, he flies over the fields.
and through the forest, ever ready to
70
ing bird or mammal. Unlike most Of
1is kind, this bold assassin from the
arctic does not confine his hunting ex-
cursions to the night time alone, but
fies abroad during certain hours Of
the day as well; thereby proving even
more destructive and dangerous than
his ally in crime. the northern gos-
hawk.
Beneath the snow-laden branches Of
the balsams, the round cat-like i'm
prints OF the lynx show forth. Bold
and prominent, they form an easily
followed trail through the woods. The
half-buried top of a fallen tree, a
cavity left by the roots Of an upturned
stump, thick-grown mass of rhodo-
demons, have all been carefully ex-
amined by this soft-footed prowler in
his relentless search for food. Slight
ly further on, his trail Joins that of the
varying hare, or white rabbit" and
his tread becomes measured and care
full, as he creeps forward on the hot
scent Of his intended victim. About
the edge Of a dismal swamp the dis
turbed snow shows where, coming on
the unwary hare, he has made his leap
and secured his prize. The line by
the side Of his trail marks the drag
Of his prey on the snow as he has car
ried 1t to the top Of an open knoll
Here are displayed all the evidences
of his savage feast. Having satisfied
his hunger he has circled about and
several times walked to the point OF
his commanding elevation. One can
almost hear his weird. piercing
scream, uttered in bold defiance from
his prominence. Evidently satisfied
that nothing is to be gained by tarry
ing longer In the vicinity, his restless
feet have been again turned toward
the denser forest in which direction
his trail disappears.
BY the side OF a gently-murmuring
ice-incrusted brook. appears the sinu
GUS hunting trail of the blood-thirsty
mink. The little footprints In sets o.
two and two. register In the snow
along both shores of the stream, fol
the mink in his hunting. crosses ant
recrosses on the ice many times II
the course Of q mile. Keenly alert, h
travels swiftly along. watchful TO
anything with which he may satiat'
the pangs of hunger. A disabled O
careless grouse, trout, trapped II
some shallow. isolated pool. an unwar.
muskrat, venturesome wood mouse
abroad from its shelter, or even tn
remains left from the repast of SOM
more fortunate or powerful marauder
will suffice In his time of need. Vi
: into the wind goes the slim, pointe,
, head, with the little bead-like eyes
; the tiny nose twitches, apprehensivel
! at some scent borne on the uncertain
breeze. Every nook and crevice be
meath the shelving banks is thorough
H explored: into each air-hole Of tn