126
Concord, Mass.
1898.
June 10
  Clear and cool with light N.E. wind.
  Spent most of the day at work in or near
the cabin but late in the afternoon I took a 
long walk in the woods with Miss Marrion & Miss
Alicia Keyes. We went to Davis's Hill and 
through the Prescott woods seeing or hearing a
great many common birds. As we came in sight
of the Mason field a fine adult [male] Marsh Hawk, 
the first I have seen for several weeks, crossed
the opening flying rather high & in a straight 
line evidently on his way to some distant 
place.
  In the cluster of bushes just behind Ball's Hill
we started on a hen Partridge with a brood
of young which were about the size of newly-
hatched chickens. They scattered in every direction
some running, others flying, all peeping in shrill
feeble tones. The mother meanwhile went through
the usual performance. Her piteous whining seemed
to me to be almost exactly like that of a
cold and hungry puppy & both of my companions 
agreed that they should never have suspected that 
the sound was made by a bird.
  The Skunks have begun their annual raid on
the Turtles' nests. We found at least eight or
ten nests that had been dug open last night with
the shells scattered about over the ground. Most of 
these nests were in the opening between Bensen's Ridge
& Davis's Hill.