/ 
Damsdale 
First Fox 
Sparrows 
Absence of 
Juneos and 
Tree Sparrows 
like a bat. He had a weasel-like way of moving the head 
from side to side when looking at me. The expression of 
the face was at times keen and cruel,at others stupid 
or perhaps silly. The tips of the short, round ears 
just showed above the fur. This Mink was of small size 
and peculiar coloring — a faded yellowish-brown about 
like that of an old sable muff. In no light did he look 
black or even dark brown. 
I Late in the afternoon I walked to the Damsdale 
and back through Derby's lane where, to my surprise, the 
tracks of my snow-shoes made on the afternoon of the la.st 
heavy snow were still quite distinct in the path, so little 
has the snow melted under the shade of the hemlocks. I 
saw many Song Sparrows and the first Fox Sparrows — two 
of them, each in company with two or three Song Sparrows, 
both silent. Robins were scattered about in the orchards 
none? 
calling but sang. Meadow Larks flying about over 
? 
the batfi., brown fields Binging and calling. Bluebirds were 
numerous (for them) and I saw the first female — with her 
mate, of course. It is strange there are no Juncos nor 
Tree Sparrows here now. I suppose our winter birds have 
gone and the migrants have not yet come, 
j^. ance Q f -t- he The country looked very spring-like this morning. 
Season The stems of the willows and cornels are getting deeper or 
rather brighter-colored every day. A poplar ^ ) 
was covered with pussies, the downy white exposed ends pro¬ 
jecting from their sheaths$*0 an inch or more.] 
