42 LAND OF THE LINGERING SNOW. 



in the snow, is well stocked with rabbits, field 

 mice and skunks. It showed me the first fox 

 track I have seen in Massachusetts this winter. 

 A fox's track resembles closely that of the dog, 

 but it has some marked distinctions. The fox 

 often clips the snow with his toes, thus prolong- 

 ing his footprint slightly ; he also has a longer 

 stride than a dog of the same size, and sets his 

 feet more nearly in a single line. The footprints 

 of the skunk are grouped in fours, and the four 

 prints in each group are very nearly in line ; the 

 first and third being a little to one side, and the 

 second and fourth to the other side, of an imagi- 

 nary middle line. 



Just above Kendal Green station the railway 

 builders have taken a large bite out of a gravelly 

 hillside. The bitten spot faces southeast and is 

 as warm a nook on a windy winter day as could 

 well be found. It is stocked with dried weed 

 stalks, sumacs with their prince's feather-like 

 spikes, and red cedars covered with fruit. As I 

 rounded the corner of the bitten bank, Spring 

 herself stepped out to meet me, for twelve blue- 

 birds rose in a flock and flew into the cedars and 

 apple-trees which surmounted the cutting. It 

 was 1.30 P. M., and as every cloud had vanished 

 from the sky the sunlight brought out the color- 

 ing of these beautiful birds with marvelous in- 

 tensity. It is hard to say which is loveliest, the 



