-V 
Bull Frogs 
Green Frogs 
Turning into the Assabet I paddled slowly past the 
hemlocks, where a Wood Pewee was singing, and on reaching 
the swamp beyond the next bend took in the paddle and, 
lighting a cigar, floated slowly back with the sluggish 
current. The air was singularly oppressive and few birds 
were singing. Two Veeries tried to start a concert in the 
swamp but soon gave it up. A Song Sparrow sang a few times 
and a Robin began hesitatingly and then stopped. I could 
hear the Wood Pewee in the hemlocks after all the others 
had ceased and when it had become nearly dark. There were 
no Bull Frogs along this stretch of river but I heard them 
below Egg Rock. The Green Frogs were numerous and noisy 
everywhere. 
Mysterious 
sounds 
Whippoorwills 
Every few minutes, both in the early twilight and 
after night closed in, I heard, at different points along 
the Assabet, a sound as of something falling through the 
leaves and branches of the swamp oaks. This sound was 
almost precisely like, and quite as loud as, that of large 
nuts falling and the final thump when they struck the 
ground was perfectly distinct. Of course no nuts can be 
dropping now! There are many Gray Squirrels in these trees. 
Do they work after dark? 
A Whippoorwill was singing in the distance, towards 
the town, I thought, as I passed Red Bridge on my way home. 
