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Whenthepondswerefirmlyfrozen，theyaffordednotonlynewandshorterroutestomanypoints，butnewviewsfromtheirsurfacesofthefamiliarlandscapearoundthem.WhenIcrossedFlints'Pond，afteritwascoveredwithsnow，thoughIhadoftenpaddledaboutandskatedoverit，itwassounexpectedlywideandsostrangethatIcouldthinkofnothingbutBaffin'sBay.TheLincolnhillsroseuparoundmeattheextremityofasnowyplain，inwhichIdidnotremembertohavestoodbefore;andthefishermen，atanindeterminabledistanceovertheice，movingslowlyaboutwiththeirwolfishdogs，passedforsealersorEsquimaux，orinmistyweatherloomedlikefabulouscreatures，andIdidnotknowwhethertheyweregiantsorpygmies.ItookthiscoursewhenIwenttolectureinLincolnintheevening，travellinginnoroadandpassingnohousebetweenmyownhutandthelectureroom.InGoosePond，whichlayinmyway，acolonyofmuskratsdwelt，andraisedtheircabinshighabovetheice，thoughnonecouldbeseenabroadwhenIcrossedit.Walden，beingliketherestusuallybareofsnow，orwithonlyshallowandinterrupteddriftsonit，wasmyyard，whereIcouldwalkfreelywhenthesnowwasnearlytwofeetdeeponalevelelsewhereandthevillagerswereconfinedtotheirstreets.There，farfromthevillagestreet，andexceptatverylongintervals，fromthejingleofsleigh-bells，Islidandskated，asinavastmooseyardwelltrodden，overhungbyoakwoodsandsolemnpinesbentdownwithsnoworbristlingwithicicles.

Forsoundsinwinternights，andofteninwinterdays，Iheardtheforlornbutmelodiousnoteofahootingowlindefinitelyfar;suchasoundasthefrozenearthwouldyieldifstruckwithasuitableplectrum，theverylinguavernaculaofWaldenWood，andquitefamiliartomeatlast，thoughIneversawthebirdwhileitwasmakingit.Iseldomopenedmydoorinawintereveningwithouthearingit;Hoohoohoo，hoorerhoo，soundedsonorously，andthefirstthreesyllablesaccentedsomewhatlikehowderdo;orsometimeshoohooonly.Onenightinthebeginningofwinter，beforethepondfrozeover，aboutnineo'clock，Iwasstartledbytheloudhonkingofagoose，and，steppingtothedoor，heardthesoundoftheirwingslikeatempestinthewoodsastheyflewlowovermyhouse.TheypassedoverthepondtowardFairHaven，seeminglydeterredfromsettlingbymylight，theircommodorehonkingallthewhilewitharegularbeat.Suddenlyanunmistakablecat-owlfromverynearme，withthemostharshandtremendousvoiceIeverheardfromanyinhabitantofthewoods，respondedatregularintervalstothegoose，asifdeterminedtoexposeanddisgracethisintruderfromHudson'sBaybyexhibitingagreatercompassandvolumeofvoiceinanative，andboo-hoohimoutofConcordhorizon.Whatdoyoumeanbyalarmingthecitadelatthistimeofnightconsecratedtome?DoyouthinkIamevercaughtnappingatsuchanhour，andthatIhavenotgotlungsandalarynxaswellasyourself?Boo-hoo，boo-hoo，boo-hoo!ItwasoneofthemostthrillingdiscordsIeverheard.Andyet，ifyouhadadiscriminatingear，therewereinittheelementsofaconcordsuchastheseplainsneversawnorheard.

Ialsoheardthewhoopingoftheiceinthepond，mygreatbed-fellowinthatpartofConcord，asifitwererestlessinitsbedandwouldfainturnover，weretroubledwithflatulencyandbaddreams;orIwaswakedbythecrackingofthegroundbythefrost，asifsomeonehaddrivenateamagainstmydoor，andinthemorningwouldfindacrackintheearthaquarterofamilelongandathirdofaninchwide.

SometimesIheardthefoxesastheyrangedoverthesnowcrust，inmoonlightnights，insearchofapartridgeorothergame，barkingraggedlyanddemoniacallylikeforestdogs，asiflaboringwithsomeanxiety，orseekingexpression，strugglingforlightandtobedogsoutrightandrunfreelyinthestreets;forifwetaketheagesintoouraccount，maytherenotbeacivilizationgoingonamongbrutesaswellasmen?Theyseemedtometoberudimental，burrowingmen，stillstandingontheirdefence，awaitingtheirtransformation.Sometimesonecameneartomywindow，attractedbymylight，barkedavulpinecurseatme，andthenretreated.

Usuallytheredsquirrel（SciurusHudsonius）wakedmeinthedawn，coursingovertheroofandupanddownthesidesofthehouse，asifsentoutofthewoodsforthispurpose.InthecourseofthewinterIthrewouthalfabushelofearsofsweetcorn，whichhadnotgotripe，ontothesnowcrustbymydoor，andwasamusedbywatchingthemotionsofthevariousanimalswhichwerebaitedbyit.Inthetwilightandthenighttherabbitscameregularlyandmadeaheartymeal.Alldaylongtheredsquirrelscameandwent，andaffordedmemuchentertainmentbytheirmanœuvres.Onewouldapproachatfirstwarilythroughtheshrub-oaks，runningoverthesnowcrustbyfitsandstartslikealeafblownbythewind，nowafewpacesthisway，withwonderfulspeedandwasteofenergy，makinginconceivablehastewithhis'trotters'，asifitwereforawager，andnowasmanypacesthatway，butnevergettingonmorethanhalfarodatatime;andthensuddenlypausingwithaludicrousexpressionandagratuitoussomerset，asifalltheeyesintheuniversewerefixedonhim—forallthemotionsofasquirrel，eveninthemostsolitaryrecessesoftheforest，implyspectatorsasmuchasthoseofadancinggirl—wastingmoretimeindelayandcircumspectionthanwouldhavesufficedtowalkthewholedistance—Ineversawonewalk—andthensuddenly，beforeyoucouldsayJackRobinson，hewouldbeinthetopofayoungpitch-pine，windinguphisclockandchidingallimaginaryspectators，soliloquizingandtalkingtoalltheuniverseatthesametime—fornoreasonthatIcouldeverdetect，orhehimselfwasawareof，Isuspect.Atlengthhewouldreachthecorn，andselectingasuitableear，briskaboutinthesameuncertaintrigonometricalwaytothetop-moststickofmywood-pile，beforemywindow，wherehelookedmeintheface，andtheresitforhours，supplyinghimselfwithanewearfromtimetotime，nibblingatfirstvoraciouslyandthrowingthehalf-nakedcobsabout;tillatlengthhegrewmoredaintystillandplayedwithhisfood，tastingonlytheinsideofthekernel，andtheear，whichwasheldbalancedoverthestickbyonepaw，slippedfromhiscarelessgraspandfelltotheground，whenhewouldlookoveratitwithaludicrousexpressionofuncertainty，asifsuspectingthatithadlife，withamindnotmadeupwhethertogetitagain，oranewone，orbeoff;nowthinkingofcorn，thenlisteningtohearwhatwasinthewind.Sothelittleimpudentfellowwouldwastemanyanearinafore-noon;tillatlast，seizingsomelongerandplumperone，considerablybiggerthanhimself，andskilfullybalancingit，hewouldsetoutwithittothewoods，likeatigerwithabuffalo，bythesamezig-zagcourseandfrequentpauses，scratchingalongwithitasifitweretooheavyforhimandfallingallthewhile，makingitsfalladiagonalbetweenaperpendicularandhorizontal，beingdeterminedtoputitthroughatanyrate;—asingularlyfrivolousandwhimsicalfellow;—andsohewouldgetoffwithittowherehelived，perhapscarryittothetopofapinetreefortyorfiftyrodsdistant，andIwouldafterwardsfindthecobsstrewnaboutthewoodsinvariousdirections.

Atlengththejaysarrive，whosediscordantscreamswereheardlongbefore，astheywerewarilymakingtheirapproachaneighthofamileoff，andinastealthyandsneakingmannertheyflitfromtreetotree，nearerandnearer，andpickupthekernelswhichthesquirrelshavedropped.Then，sittingonapitch-pinebough，theyattempttoswallowintheirhasteakernelwhichistoobigfortheirthroatsandchokesthem;andaftergreatlabortheydisgorgeit，andspendanhourintheendeavortocrackitbyrepeatedblowswiththeirbills.Theyweremanifestlythieves，andIhadnotmuchrespectforthem;butthesquirrels，thoughatfirstshy，wenttoworkasiftheyweretakingwhatwastheirown.

Meanwhilealsocamethechicadeesinflocks，which，pickingupthecrumsthesquirrelshaddropped，flewtothenearesttwig，and，placingthemundertheirclaws，hammeredawayatthemwiththeirlittlebills，asifitwereaninsectinthebark，tilltheyweresufficientlyreducedfortheirslenderthroats.Alittleflockofthesetit-micecamedailytopickadinneroutofmywood-pile，orthecrumsatmydoor，withfaintflittinglispingnotes，likethetinklingoficiclesinthegrass，orelsewithsprightlydaydayday，ormorerarely，inspring-likedays，awirysummeryphe-befromthewood-side.TheyweresofamiliarthatatlengthonealightedonanarmfulofwoodwhichIwascarryingin，andpeckedatthestickswithoutfear.IoncehadasparrowalightuponmyshoulderforamomentwhileIwashoeinginavillagegarden，andIfeltthatIwasmoredistinguishedbythatcircumstancethanIshouldhavebeenbyanyepauletIcouldhaveworn.Thesquirrelsalsogrewatlasttobequitefamiliar，andoccasionallysteppeduponmyshoe，whenthatwasthenearestway.

Whenthegroundwasnotyetquitecovered，andagainneartheendofthewinter，whenthesnowwasmeltedonmysouthhill-sideandaboutmywood-pile，thepartridgescameoutofthewoodsmorningandeveningtofeedthere.Whicheversideyouwalkinthewoodsthepartridgeburstsawayonwhirringwings，jarringthesnowfromthedryleavesandtwigsonhigh，whichcomessiftingdowninthesun-beamslikegoldendust;forthisbravebirdisnottobescaredbywinter.Itisfrequentlycoveredupbydrifts，and，itissaid，'sometimesplungesfromonwingintothesoftsnow，whereitremainsconcealedforadayortwo'.Iusedtostartthemintheopenlandalso，wheretheyhadcomeoutofthewoodsatsunsetto'bud'thewildapple-trees.Theywillcomeregularlyeveryeveningtoparticulartrees，wherethecunningsportsmanliesinwaitforthem，andthedistantorchardsnextthewoodssufferthusnotalittle.Iamgladthatthepartridgegetsfed，atanyrate.ItisNature'sownbirdwhichlivesonbudsanddiet-drink.

Indarkwintermornings，orinshortwinterafternoons，Isometimesheardapackofhoundsthreadingallthewoodswithhoundingcryandyelp，unabletoresisttheinstinctofthechase，andthenoteofthehuntinghornatintervals，provingthatmanwasintherear.Thewoodsringagain，andyetnofoxburstsforthontotheopenlevelofthepond，norfollowingpackpursuingtheirActæon.AndperhapsateveningIseethehuntersreturningwithasinglebrushtrailingfromtheirsleighforatrophy，seekingtheirinn.Theytellmethatifthefoxwouldremaininthebosomofthefrozenearthhewouldbesafe，orifhewouldruninastraightlineawaynofox-houndcouldovertakehim;but，havinglefthispursuersfarbehind，hestopstorestandlistentilltheycomeup，andwhenherunshecirclesroundtohisoldhaunts，wherethehuntersawaithim.Sometimes，however，hewillrunuponawallmanyrods，andthenleapofffartooneside，andheappearstoknowthatwaterwillnotretainhisscent.AhuntertoldmethatheoncesawafoxpursuedbyhoundsburstoutontoWaldenwhentheicewascoveredwithshallowpuddles，runpartwayacross，andthenreturntothesameshore.Erelongthehoundsarrived，butheretheylostthescent.Sometimesapackhuntingbythemselveswouldpassmydoor，andcircleroundmyhouse，andyelpandhoundwithoutregardingme，asifafflictedbyaspeciesofmadness，sothatnothingcoulddivertthemfromthepursuit.Thustheycircleuntiltheyfallupontherecenttrailofafox，forawisehoundwillforsakeeverythingelseforthis.OnedayamancametomyhutfromLexingtontoinquireafterhishoundthatmadealargetrack，andhadbeenhuntingforaweekbyhimself.ButIfearthathewasnotthewiserforallItoldhim，foreverytimeIattemptedtoanswerhisquestionsheinterruptedmebyasking，'Whatdoyoudohere?'Hehadlostadog，butfoundaman.

Oneoldhunterwhohasadrytongue，whousedto！

！

cometobatheinWaldenonceeveryyearwhenthewaterwaswarmest，andatsuchtimeslookedinuponme，toldme，thatmanyyearsagohetookhisgunoneafternoonandwentoutforacruiseinWaldenWood;andashewalkedtheWaylandroadheheardthecryofhoundsapproaching，anderelongafoxleapedthewallintotheroad，andasquickasthoughtleapedtheotherwalloutoftheroad，andhisswiftbullethadnottouchedhim.Somewaybehindcameanoldhoundandherthreepupsinfullpursuit，huntingontheirownaccount，anddisappearedagaininthewoods.Lateintheafternoon，ashewasrestinginthethickwoodssouthofWalden，heheardthevoiceofthehoundsfarovertowardFairHavenstillpursuingthefox;andontheycame，theirhoundingcrywhichmadeallthewoodsringsoundingnearerandnearer，nowfromWell-Meadow，nowfromtheBakerFarm.Foralongtimehestoodstillandlistenedtotheirmusic，sosweettoahunter'sear，whensuddenlythefoxappeared，threadingthesolemnaisleswithaneasycoursingpace，whosesoundwasconcealedbyasympatheticrustleoftheleaves，swiftandstill，keepingtheground，leavinghispursuersfarbehind;and，leapinguponarockamidthewoods，hesaterectandlistening，withhisbacktothehunter.Foramomentcompassionrestrainedthelatter'sarm;butthatwasashort-livedmood，andasquickasthoughtcanfollowthoughthispiecewaslevelled，andwhang!—thefoxrollingovertherocklaydeadontheground.Thehunterstillkepthisplaceandlistenedtothehounds.Stillontheycame，andnowthenearwoodsresoundedthroughalltheiraisleswiththeirdemoniaccry.Atlengththeoldhoundburstintoviewwithmuzzletotheground，andsnappingtheairasifpossessed，andrandirectlytotherock;butspyingthedeadfoxshesuddenlyceasedherhounding，asifstruckdumbwithamazement，andwalkedroundandroundhiminsilence;andonebyoneherpupsarrived，and，liketheirmother，weresoberedintosilencebythemystery.Thenthehuntercameforwardandstoodintheirmidst，andthemysterywassolved.Theywaitedinsilencewhileheskinnedthefox，thenfollowedthebrushawhile，andatlengthturnedoffintothewoodsagain.ThateveningaWestonSquirecametotheConcordhunter'scottagetoinquireforhishounds，andtoldhowforaweektheyhadbeenhuntingontheirownaccountfromWestonwoods.TheConcordhuntertoldhimwhatheknewandofferedhimtheskin;buttheotherdeclineditanddeparted.Hedidnotfindhishoundsthatnight，butthenextdaylearnedthattheyhadcrossedtheriverandputupatafarmhouseforthenight，whence，havingbeenwellfed，theytooktheirdepartureearlyinthemorning.