42.
Concord, Mass.
1897.
April 30
  Cloudless, the forenoon calm and very warm, a
strong, cool S.E. wind in P.M.
  Stone and I took a number of photographs in
the early morning spending most of the midday
hours lying in the shade in the woods talking.
He left me by the 4.10 P.M. train for Boston.
  Late in the afternoon I sailed down river to
the "Two Brothers" rocks and back making the
distance very quickly for the wind was steady & strong.
Saw a Pied-billed Greebe just above Carlisle Bridge,
a Red shouldered Hawk just below, a pair of
Marsh Hawks opposite Davis's Hill and a Bittern
opposite Birch Island. The Bittern was standing
on the meadow at the water's edge. As I
approached he crouched and skulked off a few yards
into the grass reminding me of an Indian by
his stealthy gait. After I had passed he stood
erect & frequently "pumped" twice in full view.
  At evening I walked to Bensen's & beyond hearing
a Dove cooing in Prescotts' Pines, a Towhee, Field
Sparrow & Grass Finch in the fields. It was nearly 
dark when I reached Bensen's landing on my way
back. The Hylas, Leopard Frogs & toads were making
an outrageous din all over the meadows but above
it all rose at short, regular intervals the husky, 
gasping voice of a Fox who barked for ten minutes
or more near the middle of the meadows. Gilbert had
heard one Snipe drumming. Many shots were fired on
the meadow to-day & I fear most of the birds have been killed.