1902.
May 12
(No. 4)
5 or six. We could see the eggs distinctly from above.
The bird was sitting on one nest most of the
forenoon with her tail pointing straight up & pushed
flat against the side of the cavity.
  I have not heard a Field Sparrow sing since
the 5th yet I see them almost daily. There were
two hopping about on the ground in an opening
in the orchard at the farm (where oats have been
sown) yesterday & another this morning in the
blueberry pasture across the road from the farm
house. Apparently they have all been utterly
silent for this time.
  Grass Finches are still singing but not so
freely as they were a week ago.
  Vegetation has advanced slowly of late. Indeed
The general aspect of the woods & thickets has
changed but little during the past week. Save
on the white willows and river maples the foliage
is not as yet sufficiently dense to afford concealment
to a small bird and the Tanagers are conspicuous
enough in the oak woods when the leaves are
still in that exquisite pink & salmon stage
which follows their first unfolding.
  The shad bush is out of bloom; the rhodora
nearly so. I saw the first ladies slipper yesterday.
77