39
Concord, Mass.
Spring and early summer.
1913.

95.  Carolina Dove. It is a regrettable fact that Doves have almost ceased
to frequent our part of Concord within recent years. They seemed scarcer
than ever this season. On April 2 [April 2, 1913] one feeding in Bensen's asparagus field
- then barren of vegetation - permitted rather close approach and allowed me
to watch it for several minutes. On the 19th [April 19, 1913] I saw two birds flying
low eastward close past our farm house and on April 27 [April 27, 1913] and May 2 [May 2, 1913]
a single bird going past it in the same direction. There may have
been a nest at this time somewhere to the westward along the old 
Bigelow road. I doubt if there was one anywhere in our woods.
On a date unrecorded but probably in late April a Dove cooed a
few times, not far from me, among Prescott's pines. This was
the only time I heard one.

96.  Ruffed Grouse. March 15 - July 2. Present in normal numbers
early in the season but seldom noted towards its close. There
must have been several nests in woods near the Farm, where, as
usual, a [male] drummed regularly in the run either at the foot of the
lane or on the old wall where the sword fern grows. Another
was heard very frequently near the Barret spring. At Ball's Hill
three hens were seen together in April and a nest with
10 eggs was found by S.O. Dexter [Smith Owen Dexter] on May 17 [May 17, 1913] at the foot of the 
wooded slope near the big hickory on the north side of the swamp -
I failed to see a nest this year and also to meet with any
young. Practically all our best Grouse covers are now constantly
overrun by Ring-necked Pheasants which have become more
numerous of late than the Partridges have ever been in my time.

97.  Bob white. A bird whistling somewhere to the westward of our
Farm on the evening of June 14 [June 14, 1913] & again the next morning.
At Ball's Hill we regularly heard one & sometimes two at
morning & evening & constantly through the day, from June 19 [June 19, 1913] to July 2 [July 2, 1913].
They seemed to be in the open fields towards McGrath's or Arnold's.
A bevy of about 15 birds is said to have wintered near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.