72 



SOME FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW. 



JOHN CORDEAUX, M.B.O.U., 



Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire. 



Interesting facts may be acquired with reference to the numbers 

 and local distribution of the terrestrial mammalia frequenting any 

 district by taking notice of their footprints in the snow. Once in 

 the late storm, early in January, fresh snow fell sufficient during the 

 afternoon and evening to obliterate all previous traces of beast and 

 bird, and on the next morning, during a walk of some hours' duration, 

 I was careful in taking notes on the many fresh tracks of wild 

 creatures, traced in lines of greater or less distinctness, on the smooth 

 and level tablet. 



The prints of the Long-tailed Field-mouse {Miis sylvatims) were 

 very numerous, more particularly about the banks of old hedges. 

 Their small rabbit-like trails crossed and re-crossed the footpaths, 

 and the many bare spots littered with bits of root or grass indicatC'l 

 pretty plainly where they had scratched down in search of food. A cast- 

 away pink paper, in which some groceries had been wrapped, was 

 ' charmed ' into little fragments. Field-mice travel very considerable 

 distances ; their tracks are very numerous in our turnip-fields, and 

 also on unploughed stubble land. They appear to progress more by 

 a series of hops and bounds than actual running, the prints of the 

 fore feet rather wide apart with those of the hind brought well up 

 to the front, so as to appear as but one impression, the spaces 

 between each group of prints varying from four to ten inches, 

 according to the pace at which they have been moving. The trail 

 of the tail also is clearly indicated in the loose snow. How fre- 

 quently in their exposed wanderings over the snowy carpet must 

 these small creatures be grasped and carried aloft in the nude talons 

 of an owl which has, phantom-like, descended from above ! And 

 how readily must the owl secure a supper when the supply of Alice, 

 to judge from their prints, is so large ! 



Infinitely more cautious in his movements is the Short-tailed 

 Field-vole (Arvicola agrestis). I find the holes where they have 

 burrowed up through the snow in damp meadows, particularly in 

 those spots where the worthless water-grass grows in thick felt-like 

 masses. Their prints form a double hne, the sides being paralleled, 

 and I rarely find more than three inches between each group of four. 

 This indicates a slow and cautious progress. The prints also not 

 unfrequently show a rapid retreat to the holes. 



Naturalist, 



