Colder than before, and not a cloud in the sky to-day.
P. M. — To Fair Haven Pond and return via Andromeda Ponds and railroad.
Half an inch or more of snow fell last night, the ground being half bare before. It was a snow of small flakes not star-shaped.
As usual, I now see, walking on the river and river-meadow ice, thus thinly covered with the fresh snow, that conical rainbow, or parabola of rainbow-colored reflections, from the myriad reflecting crystals of the snow, i. e., as I walk toward the sun, — always a little in advance of me, of course, angle of reflection being equal to that of incidence.
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| The rainbow-colored reflections from myriad crystals of the snow. January 29, 1860 |
To-day I see quite a flock of the lesser redpolls eating the seeds of the alder, picking them out of the cones just as they do the larch, often head downward; and I see, under the alders, where they have run and picked up the fallen seeds, making chain-like tracks, two parallel lines.
Not only the Indian, but many wild birds and quadrupeds and insects, welcomed the apple tree to these shores.
- As it grew apace, the bluebird, robin, cherry-bird, kingbird, and many more came with a rush and built their nests in it, and so became orchard-birds.
- The woodpecker found such a savory morsel under its bark that he perforated it in a ring quite round the tree, a thing he had never done before.
- It did not take the partridge long to find out how sweet its buds were, and every winter day she flew and still flies from the wood to pluck them, much to the farmer's sorrow.
- The rabbit too was not slow to learn the taste of its twigs and bark.
- The owl crept into the first one that became hollow, and fairly hooted with delight, finding it just the place for him. He settled down into it, and has remained there ever since.
- The lackey caterpillar saddled her eggs on the very first twig that was formed, and it has since divided her affections with the wild cherry; and the canker-worm also in a measure abandoned the elm to feed on it.
- And when the fruit was ripe, the squirrel half carried, half rolled, it to his hole, and even the musquash crept up the bank and greedily devoured it; and when it was frozen and thawed, the crow and jay did not disdain to peck it.
- And the beautiful wood duck, having made up her mind to stay a while longer with us, has concluded that there is no better place for her too..
H.D. Thoreau, Journal, January 29, 1860
It was a snow of small flakes not star-shaped. See December 30, 1859 ("little slender spiculae about one tenth of an inch long, little dry splinters, sometimes two forking, united at one end, or two or three lying across one another, quite dry and fine "); Compare December 14, 1859 ("Snow-storms might be classified. . . . I remember the perfectly crystalline or star snows, when each flake is a perfect six (?)-rayed wheel. "); ls with a centre disk, perfect geometrical figures in thin scales far more perfect than I can draw."); January 14, 1853 ("Examined closely, the flakes are beautifully regular six-rayed stars or wheels"); January 21, 1855 ("The snow is turning to rain through a fine hail.");. January 27, 1855 ("
Yesterday’s driving easterly snow-storm turned to sleet in the evening, and then to rain")
A parabola of rainbow-colored reflections, from the myriad reflecting crystals of the snow as I walk toward the sun. See December 6, 1858 ("Looking at a dripping tree between you and the sun, you may see here or there one or another rainbow color, a small brilliant point of light."); December 11, 1855 ("Great winter itself looked like a precious gem, reflecting rainbow colors from one angle"); January 12, 1860 ("Going from the sun, I see a myriad sparkling points scattered over its surface, — little mirror-like facets, . . .which has fallen in the proper position, reflecting an intensely bright little sun. Such is the glitter or sparkle on the surface of a snow freshly fallen when the sun comes out and you walk from it, the points of light constantly changing."); February 3, 1852 (“This snow . . . is two feet deep, pure and powdery. From a myriad little crystal mirrors the moon is reflected, which is the untarnished sparkle of its surface.”); February 8, 1856 ("At this hour the crust sparkles with a myriad brilliant points or mirrors."); February 13, 1859 ("A dry, powdery snow about one inch deep, from which, as I walk toward the sun, this perfectly clear, bright afternoon, at 3.30 o’clock, the colors of the rainbow are reflected from a myriad fine facets.").
A flock of the lesser redpolls eating the seeds of the alder, picking them out of the cones just as they do the larch, often head downward; and I see chain-like tracks, two parallel lines. See March 5, 1853 (“They have a sharp bill, black legs and claws, and a bright-crimson crown or frontlet, in the male reaching to the base of the bill, with, in his case, a delicate rose or carmine on the breast and rump. Though this is described by Nuttall as an occasional visitor in the winter, it has been the prevailing bird here this winter. ”); January 19, 1855 ("At noon it is still a driving snow-storm, and a little flock of redpolls is busily picking the seeds of the pig weed in the garden. Almost all have more or less crimson; a few are very splendid, with their particularly bright crimson breasts. The white on the edge of their wing-coverts is very conspicuous"); December 11, 1855 ("Standing there, though in this bare November landscape, I am reminded of the incredible phenomenon of small birds in winter. ... There is no question about the existence of these delicate creatures, their adaptedness to their circumstances."); January 24, 1860 ("See a large flock of lesser redpolls, eating the seeds of the birch (and perhaps alder) in Dennis Swamp by railroad. . . .They alight on the birches, then swarm on the snow beneath, busily picking up the seed in the copse"); January 27, 1860 ("Half a dozen redpolls busily picking the seeds out of the larch cones behind Monroe's.");See also A Book of the Seasons, by Henry Thoreau, The Lesser Redpoll
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