48 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 
There was a Crow’s nest on a large tree in a not far distant 
part of the bush, and sounds were distinct and frequent, as if the old 
birds were feeding the young corvzmes, but my son mentions that 
several years ago, he, on hearing similar sounds under similar con- 
ditions, was at the trouble to chop down a large tree, ere he made 
the discovery that the nest had only contained eggs, and that the 
sounds of food being greedily swallowed proceeded from the throat 
of the setting hen crow, who was being indulgently fed by her consort. 
The early spring flowers will nearly all blossom together this 
spring, coming ‘“‘in a lump,” one may almost say, The Cohosh, 
Violets, Trilliums and Actezs have all to blossom during the next 
three weeks, or else be eclipsed by the big tree foliage, under whose 
dense shade they soon dwindle. 
This must be the rainy monsoon, and farmers are incommoded 
by the frequent rains, which have stopped all tillage for the present. 
Clover fields are now beginning to hold out prospects of pasturage 
if there should be few recurrences of night frost. 
There has been distant thunder to-day, and it may be recorded 
that violent thunderstorms have been of more frequent occurrence 
than usual, ever since the middle of the month of February. 
Thunder squalls in spring are believed to be, by the average farmer, 
succeeded by abnormally cool weather, and the experience of this 
season may strengthen the dogma. 
April 29th, 1893. 
VII. 
Last evening, by twilight, a number of Whip-poor-Wills gave us 
their quaint serenade, with its old time emphasis. Their aversion to 
the mythical “ Will 0’ the Wisp,” judging by the birds’ vehement 
objurgations, is by no means diminished. 
The first ornithic sounds that greeted the ear on going forth this 
morning were the staccato notes of the Bobolink, and the pathetic 
pleading of the Hermit ‘Thrush. 
I heard the sound of flying Snipes in the gloaming of 24th 
April, at another spot. This is a correct description from Mr. Bolles’ 
book: “ Rising to a considerable height above the meadow, they 
fly with rapid wing beats over it, round and round, making from time 
to time a series of short notes similar to those produced by a per- 
son blowing in a rapidly intermittent way across the mouth of a 
