Jan'y 19
(No 7)
as if powdered with snow or hoar frost. The
other two appeared wholly black and must have
belonged to a different species for one was
smaller, the other larger, than any of the Harbor
Seals showing that the dark coloring was not
due to a difference in age.
[margin]Seals[/margins]
  As we approached all three seals raised
their heads and began hitching about nervously.
Finally they took to the water,  one after another,
each taking a graceful "header" and a moment
later popping up its head among the floating
ice for a final curious look at us. A solitary
Seal which we saw nearer the city came to the
surface bearing in its mouth a large Horse-shoe
Crab which it shook and crunched savagely
the long, spine-like tail of the crab waving
to & fro the while.
  We reached our wharf at about 4 P.M. and
departed, I driving home to Cambridge in
a sleigh. The Back Bay was wholly encased
in snow-covered ice as I passed over the
Harvard Bridge. The Golden-eyes which we saw
down the Harbor are doubtless the same birds
which were feeding here before the ice formed
Poor fellows! They are having a hard time
of it now not only from starvation but also,
I fear, on account of danger from gunners.
We heard several shots below the [?] this
afternoon.