CONCORD. 
1906 
May 28 
w 
£a heavy north-easterly rain-storm began yesterday 
afternoon and has continued through to-day without the 
slightest signs of abating. The rainfall has been heavy 
and continuous and the brooks are already swollen as they 
have not been before this year. When I visited Ball 8 s 
Hill this afternoon, I found that the river was rising 
rapidly. It will probably submerge the meadows and drown 
out the Red-wings again. Their nests were destroyed in 
this way in 1903 and 1904, but last year the few birds that 
frequented these meadows were not disturbed by the water. 
They were very scarce along the river in April, but of late 
I have seen them in Great Meadow in nearly their normal 
numbers.^ 
Briefness 
With few exceptions, the finest singers among 
of the 
our local birds are at their best, musically, for only a 
singing season 
very short period; seldom, indeed, exceeding a week and 
sometimes not more than three or four days. This is true 
• 
of the Robin, Wood Thrush, Bluebird, Cat-bird, Thrasher, 
Grosbeak, Bobolink and Vesper and Field Sparrow. Many 
of the second-class performers, such as the Song Sparrow, 
Towhee, Tanager, and all the Vireos, sing equally well 
for several weeks in succession. Already the best of 
the spring singing is over. The Bluebirds have been wholly 
silent for weeks; the Thrashers, Grosbeaks, Bobolinks, 
Vesper Sparrows and Field Sparrows have nearly ceased 
the rapturous singing of a week or two ago. The Cat-birds 
