Concord, Massachusetts.
1891.
Oct. 24
(No 4)
Concord.  It seemed to me perfectly obvious that the
birds, in this instance, had run from their feeding
ground to this roosting place, a thing which I
supposed never happened. It was so dark when I
started them that I could not see them at all
until they rose against the western sky and
the character of the place where they lay
convinced me that they had gone to roost.
I noticed, also, that as they came up out of
the grass they were headed in my direction
but all pursued the same course when they
got fairly under way.
[margin]Quail run from feeding to roosting ground[/margin]
  After finding my dead Quail I struck down
the course of the brook towards the road.
As I was crossing a meadow two Wood Ducks
suddenly appeared over the trees almost within
gun shot, then turning were soon lost to
sight in the fast gathering gloom. I was
not a little surprised at seeing them in
such a place although there are doubtless
ample feeding grounds for them along the
course of the brook.
[margin]Wood Ducks[/margin]
  The sunset was beautiful, the western sky
ablaze with strong warm light and a bank
or rather bar of dark clouds lying along the
horizon. The wind sank at sunset but the
air was sharp and frosty.
  Among some Song & White-throated Sparrows which
rose from a weed field near the roadside as we
were driving home this afternoon I saw a
young White-crown distinctly.
[margin][?][?][/margin]