Concord, Mass.
1899
April 16 
  A stormy day with heavy rain changing to snow in the
afternoon. Wind N.E. Ground white with snow by nightfall.
  I was confined to the house all day by a cold.
Whenever I looked out towards the flooded meadows
I saw swarms of Swallows skimming close to the
water both above and below Red bridge. I would
have given much to paddle up or down stream
for a few miles just to see how many of these
birds I could count. Judging by the numbers in
the Mill Brook-meadow (there were certainly thirty
or more there) they must have been very numerous
on the Great Meadow. I have no doubt that most
of them were White-bellies but they were too far off
to be definitely identified.
[margin]Heavy flight
of Tree Swallows[/margin]
" [April]  17 
  Clear and cold with strong north wind.
  Although my cold was better I did not venture
out save for a short walk at noon.
Only a few birds singing; Song Sparrows in the
forenoon, Robins at evening.
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