| OCR Text |
Show Springtime Is Season of Joy And Zest for Wild Creatures With Nature in Her Gayest Mood, Animals Enjoy Their Own Games and Frolics. CPRINGTIME in the wilds is playtime. The majority of our mammals have their young in the early months of the year, and in April and May it is possible to watch the most delightful games among the puppies of the fields. Badger, fox and otter cubs are very playful little creatures. The otter and badger appear to have a certain amount of method in their games, but fox cubs simply romp among themselves in a wild abandon. On a sloping sand cliff near my home seven fox cubs came out of a large hole; on the ledge just outside they played with a round stone, pushing it with their feet, tossing it in the air and allowing it to run down the slope. When tired of this they played a game which resembled "Follow the Leader." One would run forward, for-ward, dodge and leap over all kinds of imaginary obstacles, and the others would foDow in its tracks; then all would roll together togeth-er in a rough and tumble, in which their small teeth would tug at the fur of their companions. Bouncing Badgers. Young badgers are among the most amusing cubs to watch ai play. With their bold black anc white markings they are quaint looking little creatures, and rather rath-er clumsy, but there is no doubt that they thoroughly enjoy life, and their play is exuberant and strenuous. stren-uous. First they poke their noses in the ground, searching for hidden grubs; then, without any warning, all stiffen their fur, making it stand upright, and now they look twice their size. With their short legs also stiffened they bounce round one another like footballs, then leap in, grip a mouthful of fur, and roll over and over. They break apart, and again play the bouncing game, and just as suddenly sud-denly as they started to play they cease, and the next moment all are diligently searching for more food. Fun in the Water. Many young otters are born at an awkward time, that is at the beginning of winter, but they are hardy little creatures and appear 1 to be able to stand any amount of cold. Otters, more than any other 1 wild creatures, show us that they 1 thoroughly enjoy life; a plentiful supply of food makes them contented, con-tented, and both parents and young s play the most delightful games, t What appeared to be a large I brown ball was floating gently - down stream, hardly making a ripple as it swept along. Suddenly the ball seemed to burst open with a loud splash, and four excited otters ot-ters with their bright, eager eyes well above the water, started swimming round one another. One leaped right out of the stream and over its companions to dive on the other side, and as they floated along this acrobat made circles around them, those below trying to grip it as it passed over. Then they all joined up again, and seemed to be having a struggle as to which could pull the others under un-der the surface, a sort of spirited ducking game. They continue to play until all are tired. Then the parents lead their young off to a well-hidden lair, where they all sleep until hunger and high spirits call again. Oliver G. Pike in London Tit-I Tit-I Bits. |
