Concord, Mass.
1899.
April 8
(No 3)
  It was nearly 5 o'clock when I left the cabin
and started up river. The wind had died away and
the sun reflected from the cabin water was uncomfortably
warm. Great numbers of Painted Tortoises were out
on floating boards from which they tumbled into the
water as I approached. I fear the gunners have
destroyed most of the Muskrats for not one have 
I seen yet.
[margin]Painted
Tortoises[/margin]
[margin]Muskrats[/margin]
  Landing at Dakin's Hill I went to the Barrett
farm. It was so warm in the woods that I had
to take off my coat & carry it on my arm.
I saw several Song Sparrows along the stone walls.
Just after I reached the Barrett farm the sun
came out from behind a cloud and a Robin, a
Bluebird, a Flicker & a Pine Warbler began singing
in the old elms. Ten minutes later a violent
north west wind arose and chilled me through &
through. I had a hard paddle up river against
wind & current & saw nothing of interest except
five White-bellied Swallows flying about together
among some stubs. Robins were singing everywhere
this evening for the first time despite the
gloomy skies and the strong cold wind. It
was good to hear them.
[margin]Barrett
Farm[/margin]
[margin]Birds singing
at sunset[/margin]
  Just before the wind rose a dozen or more Hylas were
peeping merrily in the meadow below the orchard at the
Barrett farm. They were the first that I had heard this
spring.
[margin]First
Hylas[/margin]
39