1892
April 22
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord. - Morning clear and hot. Afternoon cloudy
with light rain.
  To Ball's Hill by canoe at 10 A.M. paddling down.
Opposite Holden's hill saw a large Snapping Turtle
crawl out of the water and start off over the
meadow towards the woods. It stood surprisingly
high on its legs and raised and put down its
feet with ludicrously awkward care feeling about
with the foot to be sure of getting a firm footing.
Yet it moved over the rough boggy ground with
remarkable ease and celerity for so heavy and
clumsy a creature. The loose skin between and
about the hind legs hung down in flabby folds
reminding me of the appearance of an elephant
when viewed from behind. The shell of the back
as well as the skin of the head & neck were
covered with shiny water "moss". I suppose it
was seeking the dry land to lay its eggs. I
ran the canoe ashore within ten feet of & directly
behind it but it showed no alarm & probably did
not discern my presence at all.
[margin]Snapping
Turtle on land[/margin]
April 23, 1892
Clear and warm with a strong somewhat chilly N.W.
wind.
  To Ball's Hill for the day sailing down under
[?] sail and fighting my way back against
the strong wind later in P.M.
  A Phoebee has apparently decided to build on
my log cabin for he has been in full song there
for several days. I have seen no mate as yet.
Cassandra opened a few blossoms yesterday & more
to-day.
[margin]Phoebee[/margin]
