1892.
July 28
(No 2)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord.- the screams of the poor victim, at first loud,
then fainter, and finally, after a moment of silence,
coming again in feeble, despairing tones as the
unfortunate creature drew its last breaths in the
grasp of the sharp and relentless talons.
  As on several former occasions when I have seen
a Hawk catch a smaller bird and have listened to its
expiring cries I was moved by deep pity and fierce
wrath to an extent surprising on the part of one who,
like myself, has killed thousands of birds without
suffering more than an occasional slight qualm.
But there is something peculiarly moving and piteous
in the voice of a bird [delete]wh[/delete] in the clutches of a
Hawk. a quality of mingled pain and apprehension
which the grasp of the human hand seldom or
never elicits.
  The identity of the Hawk just mentioned puzzles
me. The bird was almost certainly a Falco but
I have never seen columbarius here at this season
while sparverius would scarcely attack so large a
bird as a Martin. As [delete]I was without my glass[/delete]
[delete]at the time[/delete] the chase and capture occurred at a
distance of fully six hundred yards and I had
no glass with me I could only judge by form,
[delete]and[/delete] size and flight.

  The Grass Finches have nearly ceased singing but
Song Sparrows and Chippies keep on with unabated
vigor.