146
Concord, Mass.
1898 
June 25
  Clear and hot with violent S. W. wind which bought
a heavy thunder shower in the early evening.
  C. & E.R.S came up by the 11 A.M. train & returned
on the 4 P.M. train. It was too hot to walk fast
or far but on went to Davis's Hill after dinner. Just
as we stepped out of the cabin door a hen Partridge
showed herself in the narrow forage of bushes between
the cabin & the river. At the same moment two of
her chicks ran and flew off through the trees. Three
others crossed the path in the wake of the mother
who walked slowly off into the woods. The young
were about as large as Robins. As we kept on along
the path in started the old bird three twins driving 
her around the end of the hill. After we had gone
Hill further away Gilbert saw her fly back past the 
cabin. She alighted in a maple by the river & called
for some time but apparently without finding any
of the young.
  Four Frogs in the marsh across the river must be
leading perilous lives. I rarely cross without starting
a Brittern or two and when evening comes and the 
Bitterns go to bed their places are taken by two
or three Night Herons from the Bedford swamp.
The Bittern alights much after the manner of a 
Snipe dropping suddenly at the last with a 
few quick flops of its wings. When flushed it utters
a croaking ok - ok - ok - ok - ok - ok.
  The Night Herons circle warily over the place which
thing select, before alighting.