Mason Augustus Walton

Mason Augustus Walton was an American author born in 1838. He is associated with A Hermit's Wild Friends; Or, Eighteen Years in the Woods, a work that presents long, patient observations of animals and outdoor life in an accessible, story-like way.

The surviving sources available here confirm his authorship and the title’s continued circulation through modern reprints and Project Gutenberg. Based on that book and the way it has been presented in library and public-domain collections, Walton is best understood as a nature writer whose appeal comes from curiosity, quiet humor, and close attention to the living world.

I couldn't confirm more detailed biographical facts from reliable sources in this search, so this profile keeps to the essentials.