1892.
Sept 24
(No 4)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass. 
Concord. came from down river, the other from the 
direction of Concord and they reached the roost at exactly
the same time but did not mingle until they descended
into the bushes although both flocks whirled about high
in air for sometime & repeatedly passed each other closely.
Cowbirds, as I have noticed repeatedly this year, fly in
much closer order than our other Blackbirds. These flocks
to-night looked in the distance like dusky balls.
  On my way up river after sunset I saw a Night Hawk
flying rather high & flushed a pair of Carolina Doves
from the river bank directly under the Y turn where 
I think they had alighted to drink as they started
from the water's edge.
[margin]Cow-buntings flying to roost[/margin]
[margin]Night Hawk[/margin]
[margin]Carolina Doves[/margin]
  A Phoebe was behaving strangely. Perching in the branch
of a maple over the river it repeatedly flew down to
the water which it struck so forcibly, as to make a
loud splash, like that of a bass that has sprung into
the air & fallen on its side. I paddled cautiously
to the place & saw the bird strike thus five or six
times in quick succession. I could see no insects
on the surface & think the bird must have been
bathing. Its downward flight was at a steeper angle
& it struck the water harder than is the case
with the Kingbird when making its somewhat
similar plunges. I had half a mind to shoot the bird
to make sure that it was not catching small fishes but this
seemed so improbable that I spared its life.
  Picked a white water lily to-day the only one I saw & perhaps the last. 
[margin] Strange behavior of a Phoebe [/margin]
[margin]Last pond lily[/margin]