Henry David Thoreau’s attitude toward the woodchuck at the beginning of his encounter is one of scientific curiosity. The language with which he describes the animal is measured, precise and categorical. For instance, when the author first notices the woodchuck, he associates the measurement of rods with the animal and its surroundings. Additionally, the way Thoreau broadly describes the animal’s appearance is clinical and detached. For example, he describes the woodpecker as an animal with different shades of black and white. The manner in which the piece is written appears to be that of an entry in a science journal. He describes exactly where he encountered the woodchuck, his observations about its appearance and his observations