Concord, Massachusetts.
1899.
October 12-31
(E)
  Anthus ludovicianus: Titlarks were decidedly less numerous
than usual owing, no doubt, to the fact that the
river meadows were by far too dry to afford them
suitable feeding or roosting grounds. On the 17th I saw
five birds perching among the branches of a small leafless elm 
in company with a number of Savanna Sparrows. The tree
stands on the river bank (at "Hunt's Pond") & I passed in 
my canoe within a few yards of it getting a positively 
certain identification of the Titlarks. They sat rather erect
and appeared quite at their ease although they did not
wag their tails or walk along the branches. I do not recall
ever seeing this species alight in a tree before although I
have known it to do so on a fence or the roof of a 
low building.
[margin]Perching in
the branches
of an elm[/margin]
  Asio accipitrinus: The Short-eared Owl seen on the
evening of the 21st was beating the meadows in the 
twilight much as the Marsh Hawk does by day, skimming
just above the tops of the taller grasses, moving rather
slowly but with infinite ease & grace, now gliding
in a nearly straight line for fifty or sixty yards on
level, motionless wings, next beating its wings quickly
a few times to renew its impetus, frequently inclining
slightly to left or right and occasionally mounting upwards
for a few feet or turning abruptly to quarter back over  
the same ground. As it was passing within about one
hundred yards crossing the river at the head of the "Holt"
I squeaked like a mouse when it wheeled suddenly &
flew straight towards me coming within ten or fifteen
paces before it discovered the deception.
  The other bird, noted on the 25th, may have been
166