.... It occurs to me that heavy rains and
sudden meltings of the snow, such as we had
a fortnight ago (February 26)., before the
ground is thawed, so that all the water, in-
stead of being soaked up by the ground, flows
rapidly into the streams and ponds, is neces-
sary to swell and break them up. If we waited
for the direct influence of the sun on the ice,
and the influence of such water as would reach
the river under other circumstances, the spring
would be very much delayed. In the violent
freshet there is a mechanic force added to the
chemic

Saw a skunk in the corner road, which I
followed sixty rods or more. Out now, about
4 P. M., partly because it is a dark, foul day. It
is a slender, black (and white) animal, with its
back remarkably arched, standing high behind,
and carrying its head low, it runs, even when
undisturbed, with a singular teter or undula-



EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 105

tion, like the walking of a Chinese lady. Very-
slow ; I hardly have to run to keep up with it.
