1892.
Sept. 13
(No 2)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord. the Black-poll Warblers? It is high time
that they were here in force, yet there has been no
real flight of them as yet.
  Visiting the Dove's nest in the Cedar at 4.15 p.m.
I found the two young still in. or rather, on it
for the nest has long since been trampled into a
shapeless platform of twigs. Both birds were standing
erect on thin legs (heretofore they always crouched
or squatted on thin bellies) with heads and necks
stretched up. Their erect attitudes and alert, wary
expression, together with the fact that, as I approached,
I could see that all the down had disappeared from
their heads & that their plumage appeared to be perfected,
prepared me in a measure for what followed although
it was still a surprise. When I was within two
or three yards of the tree one bird started and gathering
headway by a few vigorous strokes of the wings, which
produced a clapping noise similar to that made
by domestic pigeons, it darted off with all the
apparent ease & swiftness of an old bird and was
soon lost to sight behind a pine around which it
curved sharply. The other young bird immediately
followed taking exactly the same course. Beyond
the pine behind which I lost them, was open ground
for thirty or forty yards and on the further side
of this pitch pine woods in which they doubtless
found concealment.  The total distance flown was
fully 100 yards. Both birds were still rising when I
saw them last. There was not the least hesitation
or feebleness in their flight. When it is considered
[margin]The young Doves fly from the nest on Benson's Knoll[/margin]