1892
July 6
(No 2)
Concord, Massachusetts.
[margin]Evening walk up Estabrook road.[/margin]
Mass.
Concord.- After tea I started for a walk taking the
Estabrook road. As I turned the corner just beyond Burrill's
I passed nearly under a Meadow Lark which was sitting
on the topmost spray of a gray birch calling păăp, păăp,
pă - pă - peer the last three notes ringing out like the
blast of a trumpet. At each utterance of this cry the
bill was opened absurdly wide, the tips of the closed
wings twitched nervously and the tail opened wide showing
the white lateral feathers. The bird evidently had young
in the tall grass just over the wall.
[margin]Meadow Lark
with young[/margin]
  On my arrival two Quail and a Meadow Lark were whistling
in the meadow to the westward and Grass Finches
chanting in every direction far and near while a Song Sparrow,
Chippy and Robin were heard at intervals. Presently a
Phoebee ascended from Dutton's house took an extended song flight
then after returning to the earth sang in the usual
manner for some time. The notes of this bird's song have
in strangely mixed degree both a sweet and a harsh quality
Next a Yellow-winged Sparrow gave the sputtering medley song
in the distance and then sang at regular intervals the
normal zee-e-e-e. There are several Tree Toads trilling
apparently in trees along the edge of the meadow. Both
Quail stop whistling about 20 minutes after sunset
while the light is still good and before any of the
other birds become silent. I hear no Bluebirds in
this pasture although they have been singing freely
and well through the day at the Buttricks'.
[margin]Song of the
Phoebe[/margin]