119
Concord, Mass.
1898
June 6
(No 2)
during the remainder of the night. I had heard
three Long-billed Wrens at the Beaver Rapid on my
way up stream in the afternoon but they were
all silent when I reached the spot on my
return.
  The Bitterns were also perfectly silent this
evening although two of them were pumping
steadily in the afternoon. There can be no question
that the Bittern is strictly diurnal in its habits
although it pumps late into the evening twilight
and is usually the first bird to begin at day break.
  There were only three Carolina Rails singing
on the entire stretch of the Great Meadows to-night
but they kept it up without the slightest
cessation as long as I was within hearing. One
had a peculiar voice, almost contralto in tone
and with a queer double note at the beginning the
call being really of three instead of the normal
two syllables thus er-er-e. This is the first variation
in the song of this species that I remember to
have heard. The song of the Carolina Rail is most
nearly like the scatter-call of the Quail but it
also suggests the peep of the Hylas. Despite its
plaintive almost sad quality it is to my ear
one of the most pleasing sounds that we hear
in our fresh water meadows.