VOL. XIV.] BIRD TRACKS IN THE SNOW. 



55 



placed ahead of the larger hind feet tracks, whereas in reality 

 the exact reverse is the case. 



With both bird and animal tracks, the anatomy of the 

 creatures which make them has everything to do with the 

 shape and position of the individual tracks in the trail. An 

 imaginary straight line is an excellent guide when studying 

 a trail or line of tracks, for certain creatures place their feet 

 much closer to this line than others. 



A w ounded beast shows certain deviations from its natural 



FUUTPKINTS AND " WING STRETCHES OF CARRION-CROW. 



{Photographed by R. Clapham.) 



procedure, and a study of the creature's footprints will 

 often afford valuable information as to how badly the animal 

 is hurt, and in what portion of its anatomy the wound is. 



As already mentioned, it is impossible to do more than 

 touch extremely lightly on this interesting subject in the space 

 of a single article. Tracks and tracking are, at any rate in 

 this country, a subject which still affords a wide field to the 

 naturalist-photographer, for as yet little or nothing has been 

 \\Titten concerning the footprints of our British animals 

 and birds. 



