118
Concord, Mass.
1898.
June 6
  Forenoon clear and calm. Clouds gathered in the
afternoon bringing light rain at evening. There was
a strong S.E. breeze in the afternoon.
  Spent the forenoon working in the cabin.
At 4 P.M. started for Concord sailing most 
of the way and landing at the Buttricks'. Made
several calls and took tea at the Keyes'.
  It was raining when I left them a little before
nine o'clock and the night was so dark that
I could hardly find my way back to the canoe
under the gloom of the willows at the landing.
  Nevertheless I had an exceptionally pleasant and
interesting paddle down to Ball's Hill. At first
I heard nothing but the harsh summer screech
of innumerable toads and the occasional trump of 
a Bull Frog but as I entered the meadows I
began to hear Carolina Rails and presently the 
song of the mysterious "Kicker" came faintly to
my ears. The latter bird proved to be somewhere near
the middle of the Great Meadows about opposite the
upper end of the Holt. At the same reach but 
very near the river bank three Short-billed Marsh 
Wrens were singing, not interruptedly or at wide intervals,
as most diurnal birds sing when heard at night, but
steadily, continuously and with really exceptional vigor
while the intervals between the songs were much shorter
than I have ever known them to be in the day time.
The Concord clock struck nine as I sat listening and
the night was as dark and rainy as one. I have
little doubt that the Wrens kept up their concert