Page:Winter - from the Journal of Henry D. Thoreau.djvu/94

80 His fore feet make but one track in the snow, about three inches broad, and his hind feet another similar one, a foot or more distant, and there are two sharp furrows forward, and two slighter ones backward from each track. This track he makes when running, but I am not absolutely certain that all the four feet do not come together. There were many holes in the snow where he had gone down to the leaves and brought up acorns, which he had eaten on the nearest twig, dropping fine bits of shell about on the snow, and also bits of lichen and bark. I noticed the bits of acorn shells, etc., by the holes in many places. At times he made a continuous narrow trail in the snow, somewhat like a small muskrat, where he had walked or gone several times, and he would go under a few feet and come out again.

Dec. 31, 1854. On river to Fair Haven Pond. A beautiful, clear, not very cold day. The shadows on the snow are indigo blue. The pines look very dark. The white-oak leaves are a cinnamon color, the black and red (?) oak leaves a reddish-brown or leather color. A partridge rises from the alders and skims across the river at its widest part, just before me; a fine sight. How glorious the perfect stillness and peace of the winter landscape.

Dec. 31, 1859. How vain to try to