1893 
June 15 
(No 4)  
Say brook Ferry, Conn.                                                                             
  Twice while we were at the wooded island but at                                    
an interval of nearly an hour we heard the outcry of the
mysterious bird which we suspect to be the King Rail but
which, for lack of any definite evidence as to its identity, we
have agreed to call the "Big Grunter". The sound came from
across a wide creek at some distance from our position.
Unk, Unk, Unk, Unk-Unk-Unk-Unk-Unk, beginning slowly, the
notes delivered more quickly & slightly run together at the end.
The form is closely like that of the pig with R. virginianus
but the tone is much deeper & heavier & there is a
quality to the voice that reminds us both of the pump
of a Bittern. The second time the bird called it also suggested
[delete]reminded me of[/delete] the quacking of a male Black Duck.
[margin]Lyme Marshes.[/margin]
[margin]Rallus - ?[/margin]
  We saw a fine adult Bald Eagle flying over the marshes
& afterwards started him from the river bank.
  On the wooded island we heard singing Song Sparrows                                           
a Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, & a Yellow-throated Vireo
beside a few Yellow Warblers. Cow Blackbirds came at
intervals from across the river & a pair of Crows evidently
had young. Marsh Wrens exceedingly numerous among
the cat tails & Red-wings family so both them & on the
open marshes.
[margin]Birds of a 
marsh island[/margin]
  Got back at 6.30. After tea as Faxon & I were sitting
on the piazza we heard a Killdeer Plover flying over the
river. Walking up the bank by an old lane we started
three of these Plover from a ploughed field. It was too
dark to see but they made a great racket as
they flew off over the field to the westward.
[margin]Killdeer Plover[/margin]