Tikimu's letter

Press, 22 July 1976, Page 13

Tikimu's letter

Dear Children, Perhaps snow fell near your home this winter. I hope that you have fun playing in it. When it snows, the sky looks like a great grey cloud and the world is quiet. Catch some snowflakes on your mitten as they fall gently down. They have six fragile sides and lovely shapes. But each flake is different. Watch quickly. Soon they will melt and disappear.

The world looks fresh and secretive after snow. Snow covers ugly patches and rough edges on the ground, and old leaves and mud. Shining icicles hang from the edges of roofs. But soon strange marks lie on the vast blanket of snow. Can you discover who made them?

In winter, many animals and birds are active as they search constantly for food and shelter. Each sort of animal leaves different tracks behind him. The long furry hind legs of a rabbit leave two long tracks followed by two small round ones, made by the front legs.

Mice make pairs of tracks in sets of four, and ridges on the snow may indicate that mouse tunnels run below. The dainty cat leaves round marks, without a trace of claws, but dogs, who are toewalkers too, show their claw marks.

Birds, who usually have four toes, three in front and one behind, have interesting tracks, also. You will notice from them that some birds hop, like the sparrow, while others walk, like the starling. The wind leaves its mark, too, in the snow, A graceful trail remains where it has bent the tall toitoi or swept down spindly bush branches.

Sometimes the mysterious snow surprises you. Underneath it, where the earth is warm, you may uncover a little flower growing steadily.