June 24, 1891
England
Chester - Morning sunny and warm. Afternoon sultry
with a succession of thunder showers, each very short
the rain less heavy, the peals of thunder less crashing
and reverberating than in America.
  At 8 P.M. I took the tram cars out of 
town over the Grosvenor bridge. There were many
Swifts flying low over the houses and I saw
one skim down the street close to the pavement
and turn suddenly into a narrow alley.
  I left the car near the entrance to Eaton Park.
Four large streets besides the Park avenue came
together here forming a sort of square. On two
sides there are groves of rather large trees with
open, grassy ground beneath, on the third side
a thick plantation of oaks, lindens and maples
with dense undergrowth, on the fourth side
Eaton Park with tall trees in groups and rows
and much ornamental shrubbery. The foliage was
exceedingly dense. The air was fresh and damp
after the recent showers and laden with spicy
odors. There was not a breath of wind. The
sun shone dimly through the mist that
hung over the landscape and finally set in
a cloud. Altogether it was a perfect evening
for bird singing and the birds appreciated
and acted upon this fact.
  The air fairly sang with their voices.
From far and near and on every side came
chirps, calls and songs all strange to me. I
did not feel here even of the Song Thrush
after I caught one of the singer in the