1891.
Dec. 18
Concord, Massachusetts.
Ball's Hill.
Concord. - The weather for the past two weeks has been
remarkably warm for the season but it turned suddenly
cold yesterday, the ther. falling to 9[degrees]. To-day was warmer
(10[degrees] at sunrise, 32[degrees] at noon, 28[degrees] at sunset) and as there was
no wind and the sky was clear it was very pleasant
in the woods. 
  I went to Ball's Hill as usual driving down and walking
back at sunset. On the way down saw a very large
and very brown Shrike in a pasture, flying from tree 
to tree and down to the ground.
[margin]Shrike.[/margin]
  While at Ball's hill one of my men (Bensen) called to
me that he had found "a fine bird which you can take
in your hand, sir". I rushed up to the top of the hill
expecting to see something novel when I was shown a
beautiful red Screech Owl which was sitting erect, plumage
drawn in, "ears" raised, eyes reduced to narrow slit, in the
middle of a clump of oak sprouts to which most of the 
leaves still clung. These matched the bird's coloring so
closely that I marvel how the man happened to see him.
After looking at him a moment I advanced my hand
slowly and actually first stroked his furred feet, then released
on of his claws from the twig (using some force) and finally
drew my hand gently down over his back. Bensen tried
the last experiment but so roughly that the bird flew. It 
dipped down over the brow of the hill & we lost sight of it.
On the evening of the 13th I heard the owl in the
pines near North Bridge wailing at 4.45 P.M.
[margin]A singularly
tame Screech Owl.[/margin]
  I see Tree Sparrows, Crows, Jays and Chickadees daily,
Goldfinches & Kinglets frequently, a Downy Woodpecker occasionally.
On the 10th saw two Brown Creepers while I was taking
a tramp with Faxon. A Bronzed Grackle awoke me on
the morning of the 14th by its creaking notes as it sat in the top
of the Buttericks' elms.
[margin]Quiscalus aeneus[/margin]