Morning in the Fresh Pond Swamps
1891
May 4
No. 2
Mass.
Cambridge.  fly off over the open, soaring a little in narrow
circles, and finally disappearing towards the N. I have 
observed the Robin-like flight first mentioned on many
previous occasions. As far as I know it is peculiar to this
species. Is it an instance of mimicry designed to enable
the Hawk to get near its victims without alarming them?
  Owing to the long drought (we have had no heavy rains
for about a month) the water in the swamps is very
low for this season & I found the great meadow north
of the Fitchburg tracks nearly dry in places. This may 
account for the fact that there seemed to be almost no 
Rails there. I heard only two but in the bushes along
the broad ditch that runs from Alewife Brook to the brickyard
I saw fresh signs of Virginia Rails and soon after found
a newly finished nest in the top of a tussock. The lining
was composed of pieces of dead flags which were soaking wet
showing that they must have been put in either last night or
early this morning for the surface wetting which they
might have received from the slight rain yesterday would
have dried off in an hour or two in the warm sun and
strong wind of to-day.
[margin]Va. Rail's nest[/margin]
  In the thicket near the brickyard a Least Flycatcher,
the only one noted to-day, was singing. It is evident
that only a few individuals of this species have arrived.
  As I was walking through a bed of dry & broken-down
cat-tails on the bank of Alewife Brook a Snipe started
within six feet of me.  I shot at him with a 22 cal. pistol
but missed.
[margin]Wilson's Snipe[/margin]
  On April 30 Torry heard a Florida Gallinule and saw another
in the bushy pond between the Central R.R. and Beech Island.
In the hope of getting a glympse at these birds I spent