hegxer] ANIMAL TRACKS 9 



slower progress expresses caution. Anger is shown by marks on 

 either side or behind caused by the waving of the tail and dislike 

 when for example a fox hesitates to cross the trail made by a human 

 being. These and many other facts may be learned by a study of 

 animal tracks — a study that can be heartily recommended as being 

 of extraordinary interest and one that will test to the fullest any- 

 one's interpretative ability. The following references are to books 

 and articles from which further information may be obtained. 



i. Tracks and Tracking, by Josef Brunner, pp. XII + 219, 1909. Outing 

 Publishing Company, New York. 



2. Life Histories of Northern Animals, by E. T. Seton. 2 vols., 1009. 

 C. Scribners' Sons, N. Y. 



3. Reading the Snow, by R. S. Spears in The Atlantic Monthly, vol. 102, 

 Dec., 1908, pp. 791-796. 



4. Animal Stories Told by the Snow by Dugmore, A. R., in Country Life in 

 America, vol. 5., Dec. 1903, pp. 117-121. 



To The Deer Mouse 



By William Prixdle Alexander 



Trim and lithesome, mite of fawn and white, 



All fawn above and, purest white below, 



A haunter of the bitter winter night 



With great, soft eyes of jet that peek and peer, 



And pinkish feet, that punctuate the snow 



With hieroglyphics, tortuous and queer, — 



Four pinkish feet, together with a tail 



That scrawl his name where e'er he leaves his trail. 



His shell-like ears must needs be very keen 

 When he by night would sport about and prowl 

 Beneath the snow-beladened evergreen: 

 In the nocturnal stillness of the wood 

 There lurks perchance some burly, bogy owl 

 That fain would sup, and find him very good : 

 But our pert mousie hies him from his nest, 

 With nimble feet and wondrous hearing blest. 



Somewhere his home with nuts is amply stored 

 And snug it is with fur and fiber lined, 

 A tree his citadel, and he the lord 

 Chirps loud and clear, as though his heart would sing 

 A song, defying cold, and winter wind. 

 With no small cheer, until returning Spring 

 Shall bid him welcome to the wildwood gloam, 

 A wee, glad mouse, secure and free to roam. 



