111
Concord, Mass.
1898
May 30
  Cloudy most of the day with occasional gleams of
hot sunshine & moderate W. wind.
  After breakfast walked to Davis's Hill by the river
paths and back over the pine ridges. Ladies' Slippers
in full bloom everywhere. I have found some
Fringed Polygola which I set out in 1892 & which 
I have not seen since. It has spread over a
good deal of ground under some young white pines
behind Ball's Hill. Several plants, both purple &
white, were in full bloom to-day.
  Yesterday evening I saw a large Milk Adder at
the E. end of Ball's Hill. He was in nearly
the same place this morning. On both occasions he coiled
and faced me with a very threatening expression.
This morning he vibrated his tail rapidly, making
a whirring sound audible at a distance of several
yards. The top of the tail was raised and as nearly
as I could see it did not strike anything
excepting on one occasion when he got it among
some dry leaves. He struck viciously at a stick
which I poked at him.
  A pair of Tanagers appeared near the cabin
more than a week ago & ever since have been seen 
daily whenever we have been near. I found
their nearly completed nest this morning in 
a dense cluster of oak twigs directly over one
of our paths & not eight feet above the ground.
The birds saw me looking at it & soon afterwards