The Burgess Bird Book for Children 



the Grouse. Peter opened his eyes with surprise 

 when he discovered that those queer tracks were 

 made by Strutter. 



"Cousin Peter wants to see your snowshoes, 

 Strutter," said Jumper as they came up with him. 



Strutter's bright eyes sparkled. "He's just as 

 curious as ever, isn't he?" said he. "Well, I 

 don't mind showing him my snowshoes because I 

 think myself that they are really quite wonder- 

 ful." He held up one foot with the toes spread 

 apart and Peter saw that growing out from the 

 sides of each toe were queer little horny points set 

 close together. They quite filled the space be- 

 tween his toes. Peter recalled that when he had 

 seen Strutter in the summer those toes had been 

 smooth and that his tracks on soft ground had 

 shown the outline of each toe clearly. "How 

 funny !" exclaimed Peter. 



"There's nothing funny about them," retorted 

 Strutter. "If Old Mother Nature hadn't given 

 me something of this kind I certainly would have a 

 hard time of it when there is snow on the ground. 

 If my feet were just the same as in summer I would 

 sink right down in when the snow is soft and 

 wouldn't be able to walk about at all. Now, with 

 these snowshoes I get along very nicely. You see 

 I sink in but very little. " 



He took three or four steps and Peter saw right 

 [322] 



