106 EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
something pathetic in such a sight, next to see¬ 
ing one of the human aborigines of the country. 
I respect the skunk as a human being in a very 
humble sphere. I have no doubt they have be¬ 
gun to probe already where the ground permits 
or as far as it does. But what havb they eat 
all winter ? 
The weather is almost April-like. We al¬ 
ways have much of this rainy drizzling weather 
in early spring, after which we expect to hear 
geese. 
March 10, 1855. I am not aware of growth 
in any plant yet, unless it be the further peep¬ 
ing out of the willow catkins. They have crept 
out further from under the scales, and looking 
closely I detect a little redness along the twigs 
even now. 
You are always surprised by the sight of the 
first spring bird or insect. They seem prema¬ 
ture, and there is no such evidence of spring as 
themselves, so that they literally fetch the year 
about. It is thus when I hear the first robin 
or bluebird, or looking along the brooks see the 
first water-bugs out, circling. But you think 
they have come and nature cannot recede. 
Thus, when, on the 6th, I saw the gyrinus at 
Second Division Brook. I saw no peculiarity 
in the water or the air to remind me of them, 
but to-day they are here and yesterday they 
