Close of the 
season 
of bird 
singing 
Barn 
Swallows 
I walked through Derby’s Lane this morning in the 
rain. It was good to hear the patter and plash of rain 
drops once more and to see the dripping leaves. The air was 
filled with fragrant scents released, perhaps, by the 
penetrating moisture. I saw no birds except a Kingbird and 
two Chickadees. 
During the afternoon the conditions were apparently 
most favorable for free singing but I heard only three 
birds — a Robin, Song Sparrow and Chippy. The last named 
sang but once, the Song Sparrow several times at intervals, 
the Robin freely for several minutes. 
After tea I walked with Mr. Hubbard along the 
Estabrook Road to beyond Dutton’s. The sky had clouded 
over again but the evening was still and cool. A Song Spar¬ 
row wear the Buttricks* was actually the only bird that 
we heard until we v/ere beyond Clark’s when a Whippoorwill 
began and repeated its call just three times, after which 
it relapsed into silence. Thus I heard in all to-day only 
four species of birds! It is evident that this date marks 
about the close of the singing season this year. 
During most of the afternoon a number of Barn 
Swallows were frying about over Mr. Keyes's field, coursing 
close over the stubble like hounds searching for a lost 
trail. It is one of the prettiest sights which the summer 
brings — these graceful, long-winged, fork-tailed birds,. 
skimming swiftly to and fro, turning and returning abruptly 
and seldom leaving the boundaries of the field. It carried 
my thoughts back to boyhood and to England. 
