EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 135 
Wilson never heard but one sing, their common 
note, where he heard them, being a cheep . 
From within the house at 5i P. M. I hear the 
loud honking of geese, throw up the window, 
and see a large flock in disordered harrow fly¬ 
ing more directly north, or even northwest than 
usual. Raw, thick, misty weather. 
March 14, 1855. I observe the tracks of 
sparrows leading to every little sprig of blue 
curls amid the other weeds, which, with its 
seemingly empty pitchers, rises above the snow. 
There seems, however, to be a little seed left in 
them. This, then, is reason enough why these 
withered stems still stand, that they may raise 
these granaries above the snow for the use of 
the snowbirds. 
March 14, 1858. P. M. I see a Fringilla 
hiemalis, the first bird, perchance, unless one 
hawk, which is an evidence of spring, though 
they lingered with us the past unusual winter 
till the 19tli of January. They are now getting 
back earlier than our permanent summer resi¬ 
dents. It flits past with a rattling or grating 
chip , showing its two white tail feathers. 
March 14, 1860. No sooner has the ice of 
Walden melted than the wind begins to play in 
dark ripples over the face of the virgin water. 
It is affecting to see nature so tender, however 
old, and wearing none of the wrinkles of age. 
