1891.
July 13
England.
Camelford to Bodmin. - Cloudless & very warm.
  At daybreak this morning the House Martins
occupying the nests on the opposite side of the
street twittered for some time, at intervals, rather
musically, somewhat in the manner of Barn
Swallows. Up to this time I have heard only
the short, rather harsh flight note.
  We left Camelford at 9.15 A.M. and traveled 
by stage (a wagonette was the vehicle used)
to Bodmin, a distance of 12 miles. The
country was of the usual character but we
passed one rather large plantation in which
I saw a Jay, flitting from tree to tree along
the road, his white rump flickering in the
dark shade when nothing else could be made
out. Skylarks were rather numerous at 
first and Yellow Hammers simply swarmed
along the entire stretch of roads traversed.
I find the song improves on acquaintance.
Indeed it is very pleasing although decidedly
not of high musical merit. The birds heard
to-day began regularly with a trill very like
that of our Junco and ended with a single
tee or dee given in a high, clear tone. I
did not once hear the "dee" doubled nor
was the pause preceeding it at all marked.
In fact there was ordinarily no pause 
whatever. Either my notes made July 8 (p.3)
were incorrect or the Yellow Hammers here
sing differently from those at Clovelly. The
song when heard at a distance reminds me of our
Song Sparrows.