30
Concord, Mass.
1897
April
No 5
  Dryobates pubescens. On April 1st I hung up some pieces
of mutton fat in the oaks about my
cabin. The Chickadees found it at once
& came to it regularly thereafter. A Red-bellied
Nuthatch also came occasionally. On April 9th
a male Downy came and not a day passed
after this when he did not visit it from one
to five or six times apparently eating his fill
at each visit. He invariably alighted first
on the branch just above the fat perching
crosswise and looking keenly about in every direction
for a minute or more evidently to make sure
that no danger threatened. Once satisfied on this
score he gave himself up wholly to the pleasure
of his meal, clinging woodpecker fashion to the
face of the strip of fat and digging out large
mouthfulls[sic] by a succession of vigorous pecks.
On May 1st he appeared in company with a
mate this being the first occasion on which
we saw a female near the place. I noticed
that the male came often during stormy
than in clear matter. One very rainy day
he appeared & fed lustily no less than six
times (& probably more). He[sic] [His] plumage on this
occasional was sadly bedraggled & completely
water-soaked.
  Ceryle alcyon. A single bird seen near Ball's Hill at
intervals during the month. On April 30th
two appeared together for the first time. They spent
more than an hour in the afternoon flying back & 
forth over the land, 200 or 300 ft. up, rattling incessantly.
What did this mean?