Concord, Mass.
1899
April 7
(No 2) 
  Sailed back to Concord in the afternoon landing at
Dakin's Hill and visiting the Barrett farm.
  Came upon three Bluebirds in Holden's pasture, a female
sitting on a rock and two males dancing and fluttering
about her with wide spread tails and half-opened wings,
warbling in a deliciously soft undertone, each evidently striving
to outdo the other in the display of his beautiful
plumage and exquisite voice but neither showing the
least ill temper. It was indeed a pretty picture with
its setting of bleached grass and a line of wasting snow
drifts against the old stone wall that formed the
background. A Flicker was shouting in an oak and six
male Red-wings perched in an apple tree not far away.
[margin]Bluebirds[/margin]
  Looking for the Woodcock in the Barrett run I found
him within twenty yards of where he lay on the 
5th - the same small bird evidently. I wonder
if he will remain & breed here. (I afterwards learnt that
during the past week a Woodcock was heard singing several nights in succession
over the brook meadow W. of the Barrett house by both Geo. Holden and Henry Lawrence.)
[margin]Woodcock in
Barrett Run.[/margin]
  In the Barrett woods the snow lies three or four feet
deep in many places - not in isolated drifts but
in fields acres in extent, but only, of course, in densely
shaded spots. Almost everywhere in the shade the ground
is still frozen as hard as iron.
[margin]Snow still
deep in
the Woods[/margin]
  On my way home at evening I saw nothing of
any interest. The sky was threatening & the wind 
damp & chilly. No birds were singing.
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