Page:The first and last journeys of Thoreau - lately discovered among his unpublished journals and manuscripts 2.djvu/56

 willows (black). The large trees occasionally were cottonwood and elm. The cottonwood is shaped somewhat like an ash.

At nine we are near Stanhope. At five we are said to be in the big woods; the wood all alive with pigeons, and they flying across our course. The river is often only eight rods wide, and quite snaggy. About 7.30 we pass a beautiful open intervale of native grass on the right. Many large turtle-tracks on shore; many erigerons in the grass. The black willows are often quite tall (thirty-five feet) and slender, and straight too. The small Salix longifolia beneath it. Very crooked river; acres of roses in the intervale. Swallows, kingfishers, blue jays, and warbling vireos along the shores. Grapevines in blossom climbing on a cottonwood. We often strike the shore with our stern, or stop and back to get round snags and bars. Muddy-looking water, with soft-shelled and snapping turtles in it. See a turkey-buzzard and blue herons, and in the river some young ducks. The long-leaved willow is common, and there is a dense growth of upright weeds. Note the big wood near Henderson (?).