The Mink by John Burroughs (1888)
This work is a collection of essays that explore the natural world and the human experience through observations of wildlife, particularly the mink. The author reflects on the animal's behavior, habitat, and place in the ecosystem, drawing parallels with human society and culture.
By John Burroughs · First published 1888 · Genre: Nature Writing, Non-Fiction, Wildlife Observation · 963 words
First lines
In walking through the woods one day in early winter, we read upon the newly fallen snow the record of a mink's fright the night before. The mink had been traveling through the woods post-haste, not along the watercourses where one sees them by day, but over ridges and across valleys. We followed his track some distance to see what adventures he had met with. We tracked him through a bushy swamp, and saw where he had left it to explore a pile of rocks, then where he had taken to the swamp again, and where he had entered the more open woods. Presently the track turned sharply about, and doubled upon itself in long hurried strides. What had caused the mink to change his mind so suddenly? We explored a few paces ahead, and came upon a fox track. The mink had probably seen the fox stalking stealthily through the woods, and the sight had doubtless brought his heart into his mouth. I think he climbed a tree, and waited till the fox had passed. His track disappeared amid a clump of hemlocks, and then reappeared again a little beyond them. It described a big loop around, and then crossed the fox track only a few yards from the point where its course was interrupted. Then it followed a little watercourse, went under a rude bridge in a wood-road, then mingled with squirrel tracks in a denser part of the thicket. If the mink met a muskrat or a rabbit in his travels, or came upon a grouse, or quail, or a farmer's henroost, he had the supper he was in quest of.
What this Textopian page supports
The Mink is listed on Textopian as a short story by John Burroughs, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: John Burroughs
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Nature Writing, Non-Fiction, Wildlife Observation, Essays, Memoir
- Length: 963 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Mink by John Burroughs
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- The Screech Owl by John Burroughs
- The Chickadee by John Burroughs
- The Muskrat by John Burroughs
- The Hen Hawk by John Burroughs
- The Robin by John Burroughs
Genres
- Nature Writing — The work focuses on the observation of wildlife, specifically the behavior and tracking of a mink in its natural habitat.
- Non-Fiction — The text presents factual accounts and observations about the mink and its environment, rather than fictional storytelling.
- Wildlife Observation — The narrative centers on the detailed tracking and behavior of a specific animal, emphasizing the author's experiences in the wild.
- Essays — The work is reflective and analytical, presenting personal insights and observations in a structured format.
Tags
Nature Writing · American Literature · Wildlife · Mammals · Fur Trade · Conservation · Environmentalism · Observational Style · Descriptive Language · Poetic Prose · Rural Life · Outdoor Adventure