CONCORD. 
1899 
Aj^ril 15 
Ql) spent the day down river visiting the Barrett 
farm in the forenoon, dining at the cabin, and going to the 
Snipe 
First Hermit 
Bedford Swamp in the afternoon. Started a Snipe in Dakin’s 
Meadow and a Hermit Thrush (the first) in the Bedford 
Swamp. A Golden-crested Kinglet was singing brokenly and 
a Partridge drumming in the Barrett run. In Holden’s pas- 
Grass Finch 
ture I heard a Grass Finch lisping but did not have time 
to follow up the sound. Along the river I saw a Kingfisher, 
and three Gooseanders. William Bartlett saw two Gooseanders 
and an Osprey near the head of Great Meadow.. A Pine Warbler 
Scarcity of 
was singing on Ball’s Hill. No Fox Sparrows have been 
observed near the cabin of late but I had a good vievtf of 
Fox Sparrows 
and Juncos 
one in the Bedford Swamp to-day. It was scratching among 
the leaves by the wood-path and appeared to be a solitary 
birdT] The scarcity of Fox Sparrows and Juncos has robbed 
Song; Sparrows 
this spring of much of its charm for me. Song Sparrows, 
also scarce. 
also, continue to be comparatively scarce and none have 
Rusty Black- 
birds 
been seen at Ball's Hill since the 12th. The Rusty 
Blackbirds are also conspicuous by their entire absence 
wholly absent 
here but I hear that numbers have been met with near 
No Red- 
slwildered 
"Wwks 
Cambridge. 
II 
Still another serious miss" is the musical 
screaming of the Red-shouldered Hawk. I saw one or two 
birds at Holden's Hill soon after my arrival and made sure 
that they would breed here but they have not been 
either seen or heard since. 
