Chapter 15 Summary

The principal subject of the fifteenth chapter is very apparent in the chapter's title. In "Winter Animals," Thoreau does indeed describe the behavior of various winter animals in their habitats as he observed them. The portraits ultimately suggest that there was a connection between Thoreau and these animals that inhabited the area surrounding Walden Pond.

Thoreau introduces the subject of the animals by referring to the sounds he heard at night, which included the sound of an owl hooting. Interestingly, Thoreau introduces the concept of the common language of Walden by giving the Latin term, "lingua vernacular," which means common language. The effect of quoting the term in Latin is clear: the quotation thus emulates the meaning; in the context that Thoreau applies it at least.

The next animal that Thoreau mentions is the fox. The fox, Thoreau writes, "Ranged over the snow...