Canoe trip on Sudbury River
1891 
April 27
(no 3)
Mass.
Concord. - for the cavity was very narrow and
descended at least two feet. There was an
opening not over an inch in diameter at the
bottom through which we could look directly in
on the Owl who when poked with a twig
retreated backward and downward into a crevice
where he stood bolt upright showing only his
face framed in dark, water-soaked wood, his 
eyes half-closed as usual. there were no signs of
a nest in the lower hole and the one which
contained the bird was far too cramped for
a nesting place. The Owl was a gray bird
doubtless the same individual seen during my
last visit and probably a male the female
and nest being perhaps hidden in a tall,
rotten, maple stub pierced with Colaptes holes
and standing on the edge of a swampy woods
a few rods from the apple tree.
  Just after we had reached the boats and
embarked and while I was watching a
Towhee (the first I have seen) which was scratching
among the leaves at the base of the hill, an
Osprey appeared over the meadow and
plunged into the water after a fish which 
it must have missed for it reappeared
empty-footed and flew off down stream.
  We passed Ball's Hill without stopping
and kept on up river fighting our way
slowly against an exceedingly rapid
current. A Bittern which had been feeding
on an exposed strip of meadow rose and