8 November 1852 – 14 November 1852

Tuesday. Ranunculus repens, Bidens con- nata (flat in a brook), yarrow, dandelion, autumnal dandelion, tansy, Aster undulatus, etc. A late three- ribbed goldenrod, with large serratures in middle of the narrow leaves, ten or twelve rays. Potentilla argentea. Fore part of November time for walnutting. All around Walden, both in the thickest wood and where the wood has been cut off, there can be traced a meandering narrow shelf on the steep hillside, the footpath worn by the feet of Indian hunters, and still occasionally trodden by the white man, probably as old as the race of man here. And the same trail may be found encircling all our ponds. Near the sandy eastern shore, where the water is eight or ten feet deep, I have seen from a boat, in calm weather, broad circular heaps of small stones on the bottom, half a dozen feet in diameter by a foot or more in height, where all around was bare sand, — probably the work of some kind of fish.’ The French call dragon-flies ‘‘ demoiselles.”’

Did Harris call the water-bug Gyrinus to-day ?

4 p. Mm. — To Cliffs. It clears up. A very bright rainbow. Three reds and greens. I see its foot within half a mile in the southeast, heightening the green of the pines. From Fair Haven Hill, I see a very distant, long, low dark- blue cloud, still left, in the northwest horizon beyond the mountains, and against this I see, apparently, a narrow white cloud resting on every mountain and con- forming exactly to its outline, —as i? the white frilled edge of the main cloud were turned up over them. In fact, the massive dark-blue cloud beyond revealed these distinct white caps resting on the mountains this side, for twenty miles along the horizon. The sun having set, my long dark cloud has assumed the form of an alligator, and where the sun has just disappeared it is split into two tremendous jaws, be- tween which glows the eternal city, its crenate lips all coppery golden, its serrate fiery teeth. Its body lies a slumbering mass along the horizon.

Saturday. 'To Andromeda Ponds. Andro- meda is a dull reddish brown, like oak leaves. Saw a flock of little passenger birds! by Walden, busily peck- ing at the white birch catkins; about the size of a chickadee; distinct white bar on wings; most with dark pencilled breast, some with whitish; forked tail; bright chestnut or crimson (?) frontlet; yellowish shoulders or sack. When startled, they went off with a jingling sound somewhat like emptying a bag of coin. Is it the yellow redpoll ?

Still yarrow, tall buttercup, and tansy.