Read the excerpt from Walden. I am on the alert for the first signs of spring, to hear the chance note of some arriving bird, or the striped squirrel’s chirp, for his stores must be now nearly exhausted, or see the woodchuck venture out of his winter quarters. How do the images in the excerpt relate to Thoreau’s overall quest in Walden? They illustrate that the beginning of spring has a greater meaning for the animal kingdom than for humans. They demonstrate that Thoreau has a greater understanding of animals now than he used to have. They create a connection between Thoreau’s experience and the solitary animals that he is observing. They remind readers that humans are not the only beings to notice the arrival of spring.