137
Concord, Mass.
1898.
June 21
(No 2)
crouching low with the head and neck carried close to
the ground would move off at a steady and very rapid
walk threading its way through the rank grasses so dextrously
as scarce to cause any of their tops to tremble. After
going ten or fifteen yards I [sic] [it] would stop and raise its
head again.
  Gilbert tells me that he heard the Bitterns pumping
through last week but they were silent today.
  At evening I took a long walk, starting before
sunset and staying out until the light had faded
from the West. The sky was cloudless, the air
cool and refreshing and the birds sang with unusual
fervency and vigor making the woods and fields 
ring. I heard two Tanagers, at least seven different
Wilson's Thrushes, a Whippoorwill and great numbers of
the common kinds. 
  I was surprised to hear two Partridges drumming at
short, regular intervals, one at the stone wall at the
east end of Ball's Hill, the other at the old station
at the north end of Davis's swamp. I do not quite
understand why they should have started drumming
again so late in the season for the Ball's Hill bird,
at least, has a brood of young several weeks old.
  The Grass Finches and Field Sparrows were
also singing freely but I heard neither Bluebirds
nor Robins to-day.