CONCORD 
1893 
07 .18 
rdstarts 
A cherry tree with ripe fruit near the Buttricks* 
house attracts great numbers of birds. Stopping under it 
this afternoon and looking up for a moment, I saw two Robins, 
a Crow Blackbird, a Grosbeak, six Baltimore Orioles and 
several House Sparrows, all eating the cherries. Most of 
the Orioles were young birds. They and the Sparrow pecked 
at the cherries; the Robins ate them whole. The Blackbird 
appealed to be suffering from the heat for it kept its bill 
open and panted visibly. 
At 3 P. M. I started for Ball’s Hill in the open canoe. 
There was a light head wind so I had to paddle down. Robins, 
Song Sparrows and a few other common birds were singing in 
spite of the intense heat. A Crow Blackbird flew across the 
river with something in its bill which looked like a Snake. , 
of sis or eight inches in length. It dropped it among some 
newly mown hay but,on landing and going to the spot, I could 
find nothing. 
Landing at the cabin I walked around and over Ball’s 
Hill. The blueberries are ripening and the swamp was alive 
with birds, chiefly Cat Birds, Thrashers and Song Sparrows. 
A Cat Bird, Pine Warbler and Song Sparrow were singing. 
Near the middle of the sw r amp I came upon a family 
party of Redstarts consisting of both old birds and at least 
three young. The old male was in fine black and orange 
plumage. 
