27 November 1854 – 3 December 1854

Paddled to Clamshell. Still very clear and bright as well as comfortable weather. River not so high as on the 16th. Were those plover which just after sunset flew low over the bank above the railroad and alighted in the opposite meadow, with some white in tails like larks, gray birds, rather heavier than robins?

P. M. — Sail down river. No ice, but strong cold wind; river slightly over meadows. Was that large diver which was on the edge of the shore and scooted away down-stream as usual, throwing the water about for a quarter of a mile, then diving, some time afterward flying up-stream over our head, the goosander or red-breasted merganser ? It was large, with, I should say, a white breast, long reddish bill, bright-red or pink on sides or beneath, red- dish-brown crest, white speculum, upper part of throat dark, lower white with breast.

Got up my boat and housed it, ice having formed about it.

Sunday. The first snow of consequence fell in the evening, very damp (wind northeast); five or six Inches deep in morning, after very high wind in the night. Snowbirds in garden in the midst of the snow in the afternoon.