Concord, Mass.
1900
June 1
(No 3)
  The most noteworthy incident of the day was
our finding a Coot (Fulica) in the river. We had
just rounded the bend at the foot of the Holt
when the bird started from the edge of a bed
of half-submerged canary grass and pattered off
over the water half-running, half-flying. As it
passed us within 20 yards I saw its white bill
with absolute distinctness & thus made sure that
it was not a Gallinule. It alighted below us
& when we turned back rose again & flew up
river crossing the meadow to get past us. We
started it a third time just above the head of
the Holt. This time it kept on up river &
was lost to sight behind some bushes nor did
we see it again. Some ladies who called here on
the 30th, coming from Concord by canoe, told
me of a "Duck" which stalked them by "fluttering
out of a bed of grass" just ahead of them as
they rounded a bend. Perhaps this bird was
this Fulica. I cannot imagine what it is
doing here at this season. It was in good
plumage with a very black head & neck & it
seemed alert and flew with great vigor after
it got fairly started. Indeed after the first
rise when we no doubt caught it unawares it
kept in open water & was so shy that we
did not again get within even long gunshot.
A Coot
(Fulica)
in the river
at the Holt
  The Toads are making an outrageous noise to-night.
They began it about sunset when several came down the
hillside past the cabin squawking long before they reached the water
Toads
squawking
3