An evening in the swamps.
1891 
April 18 
(No. 2)
Mass. 
Cambridge. - the frogs.
  After it had become nearly dark I walked 
on to the Port Pond swamp and listened there 
awhile. A Carolina Rail was calling cut, cut, 
cutta, cutta at regular intervals and increasingly. 
I also heard a Virginia Rail give the pig-note
once.
  Of large birds I saw only a single Night Heron. 
During my stay the lightning was flashing 
at frequent intervals in the N. W. and just 
after I reached home the shower broke over 
Cambridge.
  On the drive to my ground this evening 
I saw a flock of fully 100 Blackbirds, at least 
half of which were Quiscalus aeneus, apparently 
preparing to go to roost in the briary thickets 
between the Maple Swamp and Concord Avenue. 
There were at least a few Rusties among them 
for I caught thin tinkling notes more than 
once.
  Chipping sparrows have established themselves 
in my garden yesterday & to-day and this 
morning a Purple finch was singing in the 
Spelman's evergreens.