1891
March 25
(No 7)
head and flapped slowly and irresolutely off 
through the dense branches apparently alighting 
just as it passed out of our sight but 
we could not find it again although we 
looked for it long and carefully. A pair
of Chickadees were flitting among some birches
in this hollow. I called the male down within
five feet of my head but he would not come
nearer. Only one other Chickadee was seen 
during the day. The winter flocks seem to
have broken up within the past two weeks.
  As the sun was low in the west we climbed
the hill behind the Lower Pine and crossed the
main road to the orchard on the south
where we looked carefully for Sand Owls.
Traces of their recent presence abounded. There
were pellets under several likely holes and
in one place a grinning array of skulls
teeth and bones of mice. In one of the holes
were several tail feathers of the Flicker and
in another a Mouse (Arvicola) minus the 
head and in decidedly gamy condition.
  In this orchard a Flicker, which I omitted
to note in proper sequence, was singing
this morning at regular intervals. Its 
prolonged, laughing notes are perhaps
more truly characteristic of early spring
in Massachusetts than are those of
any other one of our birds.
  Strange to say not a single frog or
hyla was heard or seen during the entire