18
Concord, Mass.
1898.
March 18
(No 3)
through the woods where I heard a Brown Creeper
to the open farming land beyond where Song Sparrows
were singing and a Bluebird, balancing on the
topmost sprig of an isolated apple tree, was pouring
out his very soul in tender, plaintive warbling.
Again and again dozens of times in quick succession
or at intervals of a half-minute or so, his rich
notes came to my delighted ears; now clear, pure
and exquisitely moderated, next muffled by the
rustling wind that swept the gray-brown fields.
It is not often that one can hear a Bluebird
at his very best and this is the first time
that I have had the privilege the present season.
  Strolling back through the woods by another patch
I saw a fine Antiopa Butterfly and found a
sandy place literally carpeted with stag-horn
ground pine.
  On reaching the river I at once set sail for
the great Bedford Swamp skimming across at
great speed before the strong breeze. I found
the big pines all standing but there were
no Red-tails there and no Black Ducks in
the little meadow behind the pines.
  Near the head of the large meadow north of
the pines I came upon Gallant setting out
a number of decoys. They were exceedingly
rude affairs sawed out of boards & made to
show en profile but he assured me that they
worked very well and that Ducks often