1905
June 17
  Intensely hot with light S.W. wind.
  About noon to-day I saw a Phoebe bathing in a
small pond in the Berry Pasture. It flew from a dead
branch about 15 feet from the pond and eight feet above
the ground striking the surface with its breast & with
such force as to make a rather loud sound as well as to
send heavy ripples rolling to every part of the pond.
This action was repeated three times at short intervals.
There can be no question that the bird was bathing & not
picking up floating insects for each time it returned to
its perch I could see that it was dripping wet. After
freeing its plumage from most of the water by a vigorous
shake or two it would preen its feathers for a few moments
and then take another dip.
Phoebe's method of bathing
  The mysterious creature in the little marsh just across
the road from the farm house has called once or twice
(not more than twice) every evening since 14th. Always
about eight o'clock and always while Tree Toads were also
clamoring. I heard him only a few minutes ago while
writing the above notes on the Phoebe. On this occasion
his calling reminded me a little of that of the
Glaucidium that I used to hear at Caparo, Trinidad.
The rapid, even utterance was similar to, & the quality of
the voice not unlike that of, Glaucidium but those
were only five or six notes instead of a long series
of them.