
          644.

[280]
February 1, 1902.  On Tuesday, we had the first heavy snow of
this season.  Since then there has been a little snow each day
but as it is rather wet, there is not such a great depth of it,
there is about 6 or 7 in. of it where it is deepest.  Mr. W. could
not take a trip to-day so I had to go alone.  I left home
about half past 10 o'clock, crossed the river by way of the "Long
bridge" and went my usual route to the little ravine near the river.
The scenery to-day was everywhere decidedly wintry.  The river is
still frozen over and presents to-day a beautiful white field as
far as the eye could reach.  In the woods the trees are covered 
with snow.  In the ravine, the brook was running with 
full force and here alone the ground was not covered with
snow.  While walking along in the bed of the little stream
I saw a snake.  It was  one of the same kind I have seen
here so frequently.  It was almost entirely in the water, the
head alone striking out <s>of it</s>. With a stick I got him out
and found that he was rather torpid.  When laid on his
back, it was with difficulty that he could regain his natural
position.  Down farther in the ravine I came across the 
Skunk Cabbage found Jan 4 in bloom.  The spathe that I
        