Concord, Mass.
1899.
May 26
  Clear with fresh S.W. wind in the afternoon. Ther. 56 [degrees] - 78 [degrees] - 68 [degrees].
  Water Thrushes present in undiminished numbers. One
Canadian Warbler at Ball's Hill, another at Davis's Hill.
All the other small birds noted belonged to species which
breed here commonly and most of them were down to about
their normal summer numbers. All the northern-breeding
waders appear to have departed.
[margin]Water Thrushes
still numerous[/margin]
  W. Deane arrived by the 5.30 P.M. train to pass the night.
After supper we paddled up river to the head of Beaver Dam
Rapid seeing three Night-hawks and a flock of six Night Herons
flying about over the marshes. Two Bitterns were pumping
and about six Virginia Rails giving the cutta cry.
We also hear a Sora whinny once so there is at least
one of these birds remaining here.
[margin]Evening on
river.[/margin]
[margin]Rails.[/margin]
" [May] 27
   Clear with violent W. wind. Ther. 58[degrees] - 77[degrees] - 66[degrees].
  North-bound migrants apparently are gone. Found a nest
of Wilson's Thrush containing four eggs. It was among the leaves
in the side of a bank on the edge of the path to Davis's Hill. 
The Oven birds' nest found on the 22nd held five eggs today. (They
were destroyed before hatching by some predatory birds or animal.)
I paddled up to Concord and sailed back in the evening. 
Fireflies were out by hundreds, an early date for them
to appear numerously if I am not mistaken.
[margin]North-bound
migrants
app. all gone.[/margin]
[margin]Rails[/margin]
[margin]Fireflies[/margin] 
  Miss Marion Keyes & Miss Barrett saw a Painted Tortoise which had
just finished laying scoop a quantity of dirk (sic) [dirt] into the hole & then
set out three sorrel plants directly over the eggs, working exclusively
with her hind feet & not once looking back. This happened about 3 P.M.
in the opening between Ball's Hill swamp & Davis's Hill. I visited the spot
later. All these sorrels lived, grew & blossomed despite the severe drought.
[margin]Turtle sets
out Sorrel
plants over
her nest.[/margin]
92