Canoe trip on Concord River.
1891 
April 24 
(No 2)
Mass. 
Concord. - had now finished their evening hymns, 
the last Swamp Sparrows had ceased thin  low 
trilling songs, the Red-wings had all disappeared 
and the deafening chorus of Leopard Frogs, Hylas, 
and Toads came to our ears from far and 
near along the margin of the shining pathway 
of water which we were following.  
  It was very dark when we reached Fairhaven 
cliff and Bolles began hooting like a Barred 
Owl. I followed with a feeble imitation of the 
Great - horned Owl which, after a few moments & 
to my infinite surprise, was answered by Bubo 
himself from the tall pines on the west bank 
of the river. We stopped paddling of course and 
I continued the conversation in the best Owl 
language that I could command. Bubo was 
prompt in his responses and presently appeared 
directly over our heads,- a great shadowy bird 
with broad wings and big head, flapping at 
first, then sailing as majestically as an Eagle, 
finally descending in a series of undulations 
[diagram] to the low trees on the shore at the 
Cliff landing. More Owl talk and Bubo soon 
on his way back to the pines evidently sorely 
[?] and speedily impelled to report the 
flight which he made [?] times each way. 
We could only see him against the sky 
and lost sight of him the moment he came 
in front of the background of hill or pines. 
We finally left him & kept on to Martha's Point