Middlesex Co., Mass [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875
Jan. 28 [January 28, 1875] I heard one among a large flock,
warbling a few practising strains in:
an undertone as they are wont
to do at this season when cheered by the feeble
rays of our wintery sun, and it
seemed to me that he needed only
a few kind words of encouragement
to burst forth into his bold singing
April song; perhaps some governing
spirit among them [delete]had[/delete] issued his
stern commands that no such
unseasonal revelry shall be indulged
in and these youngster though unable
to entirely suppress their exuberance
of spirits put a check on them lest
[delete]nevertheless fearful of the[/delete] they might incur
the displeasure of their elders. I noticed
in the beginning of the winter that
the cedars bore but a scant supply
of berries and to day on examination
i find that nine tenths of the trees 
had been entirely stripped of them by 
the winter birds. I had been accustomed
to consider the extent of this crop an
approximate indication of the 
numbers of grosbeaks, robins and cedar 
birds which might be expected during 
the winter months, but the experience
of this season has convinced me that
little if any reliance can be placed
on this sign, [delete]In any case how[/delete] and I
am also confident that the severity of individual
winters has no bearing whatsoever, as for instance 
in the present season the prevalence of snow
& cold, which might have brought the grosbeaks
south, would hardly bring the robins North at so early a date