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EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS.
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tion, like the walking of a Chinese lady. Very slow; I hardly have to run to keep up with it. It has a long tail which it regularly erects when I come too near, and prepares to discharge its liquid. It is white at the end of the tail, on the hind head, and in a line on the front of the face. The rest black, except the flesh-colored nose (and I think, feet). . . . . It tried repeatedly to get into the wall, and did not show much cunning. Finally it steered for an old skunk or woodchuck hole under a wall four rods off and got into it, or under the wall, at least, for the hole was stopped up. There I could view it closely and at leisure. It has a remarkably long, narrow, pointed head and snout which enable it to make those deep narrow holes in the earth by which it probes for insects. Its eyes are bluish-black, and have an innocent, child-like expression. It made a singular loud patting -sound repeatedly on the frozen ground under the wall, undoubtedly with its fore feet. (I saw only the upper part of the animal.). . . . Probably it has to do with getting its food, patting the earth to get the insects or worms, though why if did so then, I know not. Its track was small and round, showing the nails; a little less than an inch in diameter. Its steps alternate, five or six inches by two or two and a half, sometimes two feet together. There is