106
Concord, Mass.
1898.
May 20
(No 4)                      
long as I cared to I got a handful of
stones and began throwing them at it in
quick succession. As such one struck the Skunk
which give a little jump and turn[ed] its rear
toward the spot with its tail raised threateningly.
At length it saw me (I stood all the
while within twenty feet) and started for its
hole, which was only a few yards distant, 
moving rather quickly and once or twice actually
breaking into a clumsy gallop. On
reaching the hole it at once disappeared.
My chief object in stoning the animal was
to see if it would eject its scent but
it did not do so.
  A little before sunset I heard Night hawks
squawking and booming and even saw
a flock of seven passing over at a moderate
height towards the north & apparently 
migrating. As I came out into Bensen's
field I found two skimming low over open
ground. A few minutes later a Whippoorwill,
the first I have heard this spring, began
singing in the distance towards Mrs. Bennett's
woods.
  Mosquitos have been increasing in numbers
rapidly of late & to-night were very
numerous and voracious.