1891
April 8 
 Mass
  Lexington - Cambridge. Faxon walked in at four o'clock
this morning. Dressing hastily we started for the
Woodcock hill. The day was overcast the wind
north-west and piercingly cold although not at 
all strong. The ditches in the swamp were 
covered with ice as thick as window glass. 
The sky was slightly hazy in the east and it 
was beginning to get light although when we 
reached the top of the hill we could not see
the ground we passed over with sufficient distinct-
ness to avoid stumbling. Most of the light seemed
to be above us, in the sky, the surface of the 
earth being still shrouded in dense gloom. The
Woodcock, however, was ahead of us for as we 
toiled up the steep slope we heard him rise 
and sing. Our further experience with him is detailed 
in my systematic notes.
  The first bird, after the Woodcock, that we heard 
sing was a Song Sparrow, the next a Fox Sparrow. 
Then followed Robins, numerous song Sparrows, a 
bluebird a Chickadee (calling phe-be steadily) and, 
in the distance a Meadow Lark. None of these 
except the first Song Sparrow began until it 
was nearly broad daylight.
 At 9 A. M. started for Cambridge with Faxon by a circuitous 
route via the Lincoln road and Waltham. A good 
many juncos, multitudes of Song Sparrows, several Fox 
and Tree Sparrows and a number of Bluebirds seen
along the  roads that we traveled.