Where Town and Country Meet 



that such a creature can toil through the 

 woods, and seize such swift prey as part 

 ridges and rabbits. Yet he does it, by virtue 

 of his marvelously keen senses, the silence 

 and stealthiness of his approach, and the 

 lightning-like quickness with which he 

 makes his final spring. The skunk is the 

 snake among mammals, silent, slow-gliding, 

 quick as lightning in the fateful stroke, and 

 inexorable and relentless both in pursuit and 

 capture. 



We are fortunate if we find any report of 

 the rabbit or hare in this snow record. Be 

 tween the hunters and the foxes and the 

 boys with their snares and traps, there is 

 little chance for these delicate and savory 

 creatures to survive. Perhaps, however, we 

 may find where the last hare in the woods 

 has leaped timorously across the moonlight 

 on his broad, furred snowshoes. What a 

 conspicuous trail he leaves each padded 

 hindfoot half as broad as a man's hand. But 

 how he can skim over the surface of the 

 snow, while other, smaller-footed creatures 

 sink and flounder in it! If he escapes his 

 many winter enemies, he may thank his 

 snowshoes and his protective gift of speed. 

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