1891.
July 4
(No 8)
England.
Wells. - a song of high musical quality.
  Towards sunset the Throstles sang freely, the
Blackbirds a little. I also saw a Hedge Sparrow
sitting on top of a bush singing precisely like
a young Song Sparrow. I am surprised to find
on re-examining my books that this bird is not
a Sparrow at all but allied to the Robin &
Nightingale. 
  The Gallinules showed themselves freely during
my stay but were exceedingly wary and
cunning retreating at once into thin bush shelter
whenever I moved or tried to approach them. 
I saw one of them dive repeatedly in about
two feet of water. It gave an upward and
forward leap nearly clear of the surface and
remained under several seconds. When I drove it
off it quickly returned & began diving in the
same spot. On examination I found that there
was a quantity of Indian corn on the bottom at
this place. Could the bird have been eating it?
After the sun had sunk below the Cathedral
and the gardeners gone home the Gallinules
became much more venturesome, freely swimming
over all parts of the pond, attacking the tame
Ducks and driving them away easily. They
swim precisely like [our?] bird and I do not
think they could be possibly distinguished from
it when [living?] although the red of the bill &
frontal plate seems to me less vivid & extensive.
At length one of these Gallinules began making 
regular excursions across the pond into the