1892
July 7
(No 3)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord.- all of about the same size and perhaps
two-thirds grown. At this age they are evidently social,
gentle, playful, confiding [delete] crossed out text[/delete] but I fear also somewhat
stupid and phlegmatic as compared with the young
of most of our wild mammals. It is worthy of remark
that they have made the usual  stools (hassocks) wherever they are
in the habit of sitting and that in no instance have
I seen one remain for more than a few moments on
the bare floor. The stools (hassocks) are composed of small quantities
of aquatic plants, chiefly Bladder wort, carelessly arranged 
in a circle. They are invariably kept sopping wet. The
question arises at once do they serve the purpose of
cushions or that of sponges - to keep the occupant of 
the seat agreeably moist and cool?
[margin] Young
Muskrats.[/margin]
  Yesterday when I crawled into the house I distinctly
saw the large mother muskrat on her new nest under
the bow of my canoe and later I heard at least
one of the young of her last litter calling in feeble
tones. To-day the nest was deserted and empty but
one of the young, still naked, blind, and apparently
no larger than when I saw it first, lay dead on
the floor outside the [?]. The mother was not
in or under the house while I was there.
  The half-grown young make frequent excursions
from the house at all hours of the day sometimes
going to & from a hole in the neighboring bank,
keeping under water the entire distance, at others
showing themselves boldly and swimming across
or up the river. They have shelled large numbers
of mussels on the barrels which float the house.
  Concerning the young Woodpeckers I will summarize as follows: