A single tree-top showed finely.

January 5. 

To Kibbe Place Swamp. 

I see where probably a red squirrel had scratched along over the snow, and in one place a very perfect and delicate print of his feet. His five toes in separate sharp triangles distinctly raying off, or often only four visible. 

In one place I find a beaten track from a hole in the ground to a walnut a rod distant up which they have gone for nuts, which still hang on it. 

The whole print of the foot, etc., is about an inch and three quarters long, a part of the leg being impressed. Two of the tracks, when they are running, apparently, the two foremost, are wider apart; and perhaps with one pair they often make five marks, with the other four. 

Where there is a deep furrow in a chestnut tree between two swelling muscles, in two instances the squirrels, knowing it to be hollow, have gnawed a hole, enlarging the crack between two cheeks, and so made themselves a retreat. In one instance they have commenced to gnaw between the cheeks, though no cavity appears, but I have no doubt the tree is hollow. 

A large yellow birch — or black — has the main stem very short and branches very long, nearly from one centre. 

There was a fine rosy sky in the west after sunset; and later an amber-colored horizon, in which a single tree-top showed finely.

January 5, 1860

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, January 5, 1853

I see where probably a red squirrel had scratched along over the snow. In one place I find a beaten track from a hole in the ground to a walnut See December 14, 1855 ("It imparts life to the landscape to see merely the squirrels’ track in the snow at the base of the walnut tree."); January 3, 1856 ("I see where a squirrel, gray or red, dug through the snow last night in search of acorns. I know it was last night, for it was while the last snow was falling, and the tracks are partly filled by it. "). See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The Red Squirrel

The squirrels, knowing it to be hollow, have gnawed a hole, enlarging the crack between two cheeks, and so made themselves a retreat. See  January 22, 1856 ("If you wish to know whether a tree is hollow, or has a hole in it, ask the squirrels.")

A fine rosy sky in the west after sunset; and later an amber-colored horizon, in which a single tree-top showed finely. See  December 12, 1859 ("The night comes on early these days, and I soon see the pine tree tops distinctly outlined against the dun (or amber) but cold western sky.").

Night comes on early.

Pine tree tops outlined against

the cold western sky,

December 12, 1859

December 20, 1851 ("The sun goes down apace behind glowing pines, and golden clouds like mountains skirt the horizon."); ; December 25, 1858 ("How full of soft, pure light the western sky now, after sunset! I love to see the outlines of the pines against it. . . . In a pensive mood I enjoy the complexion of the winter sky at this hour.");

Western sky full of

soft pure light after sunset,

the outlines of pines.

December 25, 1858

January 9, 1859 ("It is worth the while to stand here at this hour and look into the soft western sky, over the pines whose outlines are so rich and distinct against the clear sky"); January 17, 1852 (“In proportion as I have celestial thoughts, is the necessity for me to be out and behold the western sky sunset these winter day"); January 24, 1852 (" A single elm by Hayden's stands in relief against the amber and golden, deepening into dusky but soon to be red horizon.")