1892
March 24
Concord, Massachusetts
[margin] Ball's Hill[/margin]
Mass.
Concord. - Sunny and rather warm, the snow and ice
melting rapidly. Wind N.W. to W., rather strong.
 To Ball's Hill by boat at 9 a.m. On the way 
down saw and heard five or six Blue Jays but
only one Bluebird. Song Sparrows do not seem to
have increased in numbers since the tenth. None
were singing this morning but I saw two or three
in the bush along the river.
 I started a pair of Black Ducks, doubtless the 
same as those seen yesterday, from the flooded
maples opposite Dakin's Hill. The Gooseanders seem
to have left the river altogether. I have not seen one
since the 17th.
[margin]Black Ducks[/margin]
 I spent the greater part of the day in my
cabin, superintending the driving of a well among
other things. We got water, apparently pure and
sweet, at a depth of about nine feet.
 At the Hill heard Jays screaming & Crows cawing at
frequent intervals. I have seen no indication of
any migration of Crows as yet. 
 Several days ago (on the 22nd I think it was) I
noticed a marked increase of freshness of coloring in
the foliage of both white & pitch pines but at that
date there was still a considerable difference of color
in the two trees. To-day I found it impossible to
tell them apart at any distance over 100 yds by
color alone. The white pines have changed to a lighter
livelier green, the pitch pines have become darker &
have almost wholly lost their usual yellowish tinge.
[margin]Change of 
color of white 
& pitch pines[/margin]
 About one quarter of the surface of the open country
is now bare of snow.