1891.
June 25
England.
Chester. - Cloudy with low [?], dark sky and heavy
rain, coming in showers some of these accompanied
by very tame thunder & lightening.
  At 8 P.M. I went to Grosvenor Park which
lies in the heart of the city on the banks of the 
Dee. It is beautifully laid out with winding
walks bordered by shrubbery and flowers, with
occasional trees scattered about or planted in copses,
and extension lawns. Along the river bank and
about the picturesque ruins of St. John's church
there ware many tall, old lindens.
  I found at least three different Throstles singing
here and got a good view of one of them as he
sat on the topmost twig of a hawthorn. He is
the first that I have seen and by far the best 
singer that I have yet heard. The Throstle is
certainly a fine singer. I rate him above the Brown
Thrasher and next below the Mockingbird. He has
much more variety than the former and is less of a
mimic than the latter (I a not sure that he
imitates other birds at all). No bird that I have
ever heard before utters his notes with such clearness
and precision. Much variation in the songs of different birds.
  There was also a Blackbird singing, sitting on
the topmost spray of a low tree. The song lacks spirit
and emphasis but is very sweet & musical. It
reminds me by turns of the Wood Thrush's, Olive backed
Thrush's and Scarlet Tanager's. IT is about as long as
that of the last named bird. It has as Burrough's
says a dolce far niento quality. The bird seems to
be in a reverie. Different individuals sing nearly alike