1891
May 21
(no 3)
Afternoon in Fresh Pond swamps.
Mass.
Cambridge. - third nest had three eggs which we
of course left for more.
  On reaching the causeway we cross it and 
struck directly in towards Pont Pond on the left
(south) side of the brook which forms its outlet.
Before we had gone many rods I found a
Virginia Rail's nest containing six eggs and
a little later Jeffries discovered a Carolina Rail's with
three eggs. Both nests were left undisturbed.
  Returning we waded directly across the swamp behind
the brick yard, then crossed the railroad and
visited the colony of Marsh Wrens (palustris) in
the middle of the big meadow north of Glacialis
Jeffries had never met this bird before and showed
much interest in them and their nests of which
we found a number. I found a Carolina Rail's
nest here. It was empty but lined with wet flags
and evidently new.
  We had just sufficient time left to walk slowly
down to the usual rendezvous at Alewife Brook
where George met us with the buggy at 7 o'clock.
  During the afternoon we heard several Carolina Rails
singing freely but only one Virginia. The latter
species is a very silent bird especially at this season.
  While we were near Pont Pond we saw two
Wood Ducks repeated, flying about something singly
sometimes in company, squealing a good deal. Both
looked like females. A Green Heron also flew into
the flooded maple woods an the west side of the 
pond. many bank Swallows & a few Swifts were flying
over Glacialis early in the afternoon. The day was