On reaching Sherman^ Bridge we went ashore and 
built a fire among the pines on the south slope of the knoll. 
The rain now changed to snow which came driving over the 
meadows in gusts before the violent North wind. Altogether 
the weather had become abominable but nevertheless we ate 
lunch very comfortably in our warm and sheltered nook. 
There were many small bird3 about us, chiefly Yellow-rumps 
and Song and Swamp Sparro s. Swallows were passing at inter¬ 
vals following the river. Heard a Parula Warbler sing twice 
in the maples on the causeway. A Oolaptes ( Flicker ) 
”shouting in a big isolated oak in the neighboring field. 
At about 1 P.$J. we hoisted our sails and started 
across the Sudbury meadows. The wind was strong, at times 
violent and gusty but as the water on the meadows was no¬ 
where more than two or three feet deep an upset had no ter¬ 
rors, even for my companion who had never sailed a boat of 
any kind before. We crossed the meadow very quickly and 
pleasantly despite the frequent snow squalls that chilled 
and blinded us. 
Ever since starting from Concord we had seen White- 
bellied Swallows in fair numbers and a few Barn Swallows, 
also, but the rendevous of all the Swallows to-day proved 
to be the big Sudbury Meadow, over every portion of which 
they were skimming in swarms or rather in one great swarm, 
keeping close to the water (for the entire meadow was flooded) 
and hovering about the tufts of grass, tussocks, and button 
