1893, 
Aug. 5
Concord, Mass,

   I walked through Derby' s [?lane] this morning in the
rain. It was good to hear the patter and plash of
rain drops over [?more} and to see the dripping leaves.
The air was filled with fragrant scents [?washed?], perhaps,
By the penetrating moisture. I saw no birds except 
a King bird and two Chickadees.
   During the afternoon the conditions were [?] apparently              
most favourable for free [?] singing but I heard only three            
birds a Robin, Song Sparrow and Chippy [?]. The last named
sang but once, then Song Sparrow several times at intervals,
the Robin fairly [?] for several minutes.
[margin]Close of the season
bird singing[/margin]


   After tea I walked with Mr. Hubbard along the
Easterbrook road to beyond Dutton's. The sky had 
clouded over again but this evening was still and
cool. A Song Sparrow near the Buttick's was actually 
the only bird that we heard until one[ ?] beyond
Clark's when a {Whipporonius [?] began and repeated its call just
three times after which it relapsed into silence. Thus
I heard in all to-day only four species of birds!
It is evident that this date marks about the close 
of the singing season this year.
   During most of the afternoon a number of Barn                         
Swallows were flying about on Mr. Keyes' field, coming
close over the stubble like hounds searching for a 
lost trail. It is one of the prettiest sights which
the summer brings, their graceful, long-winged, fork-
tailed birds skimming swiftly to and fro turning
& returning abruptly and seldom leaving the boundaries 
of the field. It carried my thoughts back to boyhood & to England.
[margin]Barn Swallows[/margin]