3

Concord, Mass.
1915.
April, May
& June.
(No 3)

Batrachians

  The spring chorus of Batrachian voices began much later
than usual and indeed not until April 8 [April 8, 1915] when Wood Frogs
were croaking by scores, all the afternoon in the pond hole below 
our orchard. I heard the first Hyla on the evening of the 9th [April 9, 1915]
and the first Garden Toad on that of the 18th [April 18, 1915].

Migatory [Migratory] Bats.

  The first Bat appeared in our wood shed loft on April 27 [April 27, 1915], thereby
establishing the only arrival record for that month that I have ever
noted. It remained there alone until May 6 [May 6, 1915] when another joined
it. On the 7th [May 7, 1915] there were five Bats in this loft; on the 8th [May 8, 1915] eight;
on the 9th [May 9, 1915] eleven; on the 10th [May 10, 1915] eleven; on the 11th [May 11, 1915] twelve; on the
13th [May 13, 1915], 14th [May 14, 1915] & 15th [May 15, 1915], fifteen; on the 16th [May 16, 1915] and thereafter up to the
end of June, sixteen. In cool weather they invariably spent
the day clinging all together in a compact cluster but when
the weather was very warm they scattered about singly. I
watched for the appearance of young but saw none.

Deer
Gray Squirrels

  Deer scarce this spring. None reported seen. I saw the tracks of
one at the Farm and of another near Ball's Hill, in April or May.
Gray Squirrels less numerous than usual, yet common enough especially about
the Farm. One behaved like an egg robber. The birds evidently regarded him
as such, chasing him away whenever he approached their nests. To him I am
inclined to attribute the raiding of nests in apple & other orchard trees,
almost all of which were despoiled of fresh-laid eggs & had their linings 
torn out. Jays may have been partly responsible for this but the Squirrel
was, I fear, chiefly so. The Robins reared no young save in a nest under
the roof of a piazza, in another on the wood pile in our shed, and in
a third in an apple tree close to the house. The Squirrel finally
came prowling about even these nests, apparently with sinister intent, 
but I peppered him with a light charge of dust shot at long range
and after that he kept away from them & me. Another Gray took