In New England Fields and Woods

A series of seasonal sketches and natural-history essays records life in New England's fields and woods across the year. The author offers close observations of changing weather and plant life, notes behaviors of birds, mammals, and amphibians—crows, woodpeckers, bobolinks, chipmunks, mink, raccoon, fox, weasel, muskrat, toad, and more—and describes outdoor pursuits such as angling, camping, and field sports. Interspersed are reflections on campfires, rural homesteads, and the effects of human activity on wildlife, sometimes pleading for protection of unguarded species. The tone is anecdotal and descriptive, moving through months to convey seasonal rhythms and the small details of country life.