1892
June 15
(No 5)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord.- hundred yards and see them swinging
from tree to tree or across the stream with
their slow but graceful flight.
  A Musk rat which came up within a yard
of my boat and then swam directly away from
me [delete][?][/delete] employed its tail continuously, as I could see
with perfect distinctness, [delete]to assist with[/delete] in a lateral
sculling motion which doubtless added somewhat
to the impetus given & maintained (as I could
also see) by the feet. I have often before suspected
that the tail was used in this way but now
I know it.
[margin]Musk rat[/margin]
  Two Cedar birds sitting on a dead branch near
my cabin passed something back & forth between
them each as it accepted the proffered offering
throwing up its head, opening its bill wide &
quivering the half opened wings precisely like
a young bird. I had left my glass in the
canoe unfortunately & failed to make out what
the morsel was. A third Cedar bird at one
time joined the other two without opposition
or welcome on their part, then after sitting
still a moment, left them.
[margin]Cedar Birds[/margin]