1892
April 3
(No 2)
Concord, Massachusetts.
[margin]To Ball's Hill[/margin]
Mass.
Concord. - At 4 P.M. I started for Ball's Hill having
agreed to meet Dr. Emerson there to show him my
house. I took my Rob Roy canoe and sailed as
far as the Holt. on reaching which I drew the canoe
across the land and embarked again on the
flooded meadow. The wind had now increased to
nearly a gale and after making this attempt I
found it impossible to carry even my smallest
sail.
  On the way down I neither saw nor heard anything
of interest but the paddle back after sunset
was more productive. The wind had lulled to a
gentle breeze as soft and warm as that of a June
evening. Red-wings, Song Sparrows and Bluebirds
were singing everywhere and as I neared the town
I heard two Robins but neither sang for more than
a few minutes and then not very vigorously.
[margin]Birds singing
along the river
at sunset.[/margin]
  Hylas were peeping in the little meadow just
west of Ball's Hill and others near Hunt's Pond
but not above half a dozen in either place. I
heard perhaps as many Leopard Frogs also.
Dr. Emerson tells me that he heard the first Hyla
this morning at about 2 o'clock.
[margin]Hylas.[/margin]
[margin]Leopard Frogs.[/margin]
  I saw a Kingfisher near Holden's hill and
four Swallows flying over the meadows at sunset.
The gunners have not slaughtered all the Musk
-rats yet (they were after them again yesterday)
for I saw two on my way home.
[margin]Kingfisher[/margin]
[margin]Musk Rats[/margin]
  Mr. Holden tells me that he saw four White-bellied
Swallows flying together over the Great Fields on
March 27. He is reliable & knows birds well.
[margin]White-bellied
Swallows[/margin]