A Book of the Seasons: February 4.

February 4
The tracks of a mink
in shallow snow along the
edge of the river.
February 4, 1854


In the shallow snow
by the edge of the river,
the tracks of a mink.
February 4, 1854


The tracks of a mink
looking for a hole in the ice
on the river’s edge.
February 4, 1854

Distinct otter-track
by the rock at the junction
of the two rivers.
February 4, 1855

Partridges feed on
the sumach berries making
fresh tracks every snow.
February 4, 1856


I went over to the Hemlocks on the Assabet this morning. Saw the tracks, I think of a mink, in the shallow snow along the edge of the river, looking for a hole in the ice. A clear, cold morning. February 4, 1854



See this afternoon a very distinct otter-track by the Rock, at the junction o

The separate foot-tracks are quite round, more than two inches in diameter, showing the five toes distinctly in the snow, which is about half an inch deep. February 4, 1855

Close by the Great Aspen I see where it had entered or come out of the water under a shelf of ice left adhering to a maple. February 4, 1855
I see that the partridges feed quite extensively on the sumach berries, e. g. at my old house. They come to them after every snow, making fresh tracks, and have now stripped many bushes quite bare. February 4, 1856

At Tanager Glade I see where the rabbits have gnawed the bark of the shrub oaks extensively, and the twigs, down to the size of a goose-quill, cutting them off as smoothly as a knife. February 4, 1856
The oak leaves which have blown over the snow are collected in dense heaps on the still side of the bays at Walden, where I suspect they make warm beds for the rabbits to squat on. February 4, 1856

The sun loves to nestle in the boughs of the pine and pass rays through them. February 4, 1852
\

Partridges feed quite extensively on the sumach berries. February 4, 1856

They come to them after every snow, making fresh tracks, and have now stripped many bushes quite bare. February 4, 1856

Discover the Ledum latifolium, quite abundant over a space about six rods in diameter just east of the small pond-hole, growing with the Andromeda calyculata, Polifolia, Kalmia glauca, etc. This plant might easily be confounded with the water andromeda by a careless observer. When I showed it to a teamster, he was sure that he had seen it often in the woods, but the sight of the woolly under side staggered him. As usual with the finding of new plants, I had a presentiment that I should find the ledum in Concord. It is a remarkable fact that, in the case of the most interesting plants which I have discovered in this vicinity, I have anticipated finding them perhaps a year before the discovery. February 4, 1858

11 P. M. — Coming home through the village by this full moonlight, it seems one of the most glorious nights I ever beheld. February 4, 1852 

It seems a slighting of the gifts of God to go to sleep now; as if we could better afford to close our eyes to daylight, of which we see so much. February 4, 1852

Another walk ending

at the Fisher-Kendall pond

looking at the stars.

February 4, 2017

A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau

"A book, each page written in its own season,

out-of-doors, in its own locality.”

 ~edited, assembled and rewritten by zphx © 2009-2024