1892.
Aug. 17
(No 2)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord.- As we were returning past Clam Shell Hill a little
after sunset we disturbed a flock of about thirty Red-wings which
were evidently preparing to roost in a dense thicket of button
bushes on the east bank of the river. Among them were at least
five old males in apparently unchanged breeding plumage. As
they realighted on the bushes after a short flight they showed
their scarlet epaulettes as conspicuously as if it were the breeding season.
Several smaller flocks arrived from down river and joined the
others after we had passed.
[margin]Red-wings
in breeding
plumage still.[/margin]

  Meadow Larks, also, were assembling to roost in this meadow.
I saw one flock of ten and several parties of from three or four
to seven or eight arrive in quick succession all coming from the
north and all alighting in the same place, an open, dry spot
where the grass has been cut and the "rowan" is now four or five
inches high.
[margin]Meadow Larks
in flocks &
assembling to
roost together[/margin]

  Robins, too, were coming in from various directions and
pitching down into the maple woods on the eastern border of
the meadow. Their roost, however, is of trifling proportions judging
from what I saw of it this evening.
[margin]Robin roost√√[tick marks][/margin]

  The Lucky Bugs now spend the entire day in rafts in
sheltered coves among the lily pads whence they emerge a
little after sunset and scatter about over the whole river.
Some of these rafts contain hundreds of individual each.
[margin]"Lucky" Bugs[/margin]

  For four or five nights past a Screech Owl has come about our
house at 9 to 11 P.M. and uttered either its wail or the
cŭ-cŭ-cŭ-cŭ-cŭ cry. It usually stays within hearing for
ten or fifteen minutes, never much longer.
[margin]Screech Owl[/margin]