1893
Oct. 27.
Concord, Mass.
  Cloudy with damp, warm S. wind and every indication of rain
which, however, did not come.
  To Ball's Hill at 8.30 A.M. driving to the Buttrick's and
thence sailing down in the Stella Mario. The wind was light at
first but it gradually increased to a strong breeze. The aquat-
ic and semi-aquatic vegetation is now as lifeless and brown as
in midwinter but the pastures are still green. Saw one dragon-
fly and several butterflies.
  There were a good many birds -- a Red-shouldered Hawk, a fine
old male, was sitting on a fence post eating what seemed to be
a mouse, which it held down under its feet, drawing out a long
string of entrails and swallowing them with some difficulty.
  A large flock of Crows were assembled in the chestnuts on
Holden's Hill making a great clamor and finally going off South-
ward. I counted 52. A little later the lisping calls of Robins
attracted my attention to a flock of 47 of these birds which were 
passing over at a height of fully 1000 feet. They were steer-
ing due south and unquestionably were migrating at the time
(about 10A.M.). Ten or a dozen Tree Sparrows were rollicking
in an alder thicket on the river bank. One of them sang a number 
of times. Its voice was as loud and sweet as in spring. Tit-
larks were flying about over the meadows piping but most of them