Concord, Mass.
1901.
June 16
(No. 3)
  For a week or more we have heard Swifts rumbling
at intervals in the cabin chimney. This morning I sent 
Gilbert up to look down into it but he reported that
there was nothing there. Shortly afterwards I saw a
pair of Swifts try to enter it repeatedly but there
was a fire at the time & the smoke evidently
repelled them. We put out the fire and they
soon entered. By holding a small mirror in the
fireplace I found that I could easily see the
whole interior of the chimney. The Swifts were
clinging to one of its walls, one bird directly
above the other. They remained there quietly
through most of the forenoon Gilbert tells me.
I have also heard them this evening at short
intervals between 8 and 9 o'clock although the
night is very dark. They have made the
rumbling sound very many times and also
have twittered occasionally.
  I was mistaken about the Red-wings. As I
passed around Holden's meadow this morning
in the canoe I saw at least a dozen birds.
This is fully up to the usual number for
this particular stretch of river. I saw one female
come flying out over the water bearing the excrement 
sack of her young in her bill. There were also
several Grackles in the thickets.
  The Bittern near Hobb's Camp is also all right
for he was pumping lustily in the usual place
this morning.
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