Dragon-flies of several kinds were flying over them. In 
the river we saw Potamogeton (pondweeds) of three different 
species, one introduced from Europe. The marshes were 
everywhere so dry that we walked over them without wetting 
so much as the soles of our shoes. They were, indeed, for 
the most part obviously parched by the recent drought. 
The number and variety of the birds seen during 
this walk surprised me not a little. Here is a full list 
of them: 
1.Yellow Warbler. Two in apple-tree near Coolidge farm. 
2.Savanna Sparrow. Male in full song; female near 
him chirping anxiously! 
3.Song Sparrow. Three males singing on edge of mardi. 
4. Sparrow. About a dozen along edge of marsh. 
5. Meadow Lark. Two or three in marsh, one in full song 
6.Red-wing Blackbird. Flock of six females and young 
in marsh. 
7. Crow Blackbird. 
8. Flicker, 
9. Crows. 
10. King-bird. 
11. Chimney Swift. 
Flock of about thirty. 
Two on ground in marsh. 
Five or six in Cemetery oaks. 
Family party of four, edge of marsh. 
About a dozen marsh. 
12.Kingfisher. One flying over river. 
13.Sparrow Hawk. Family party of four or five in oaks, 
edge of marsh, and flying over it. 
We saw one carrying what appeared to 
be a long stalk of green grans or 
weed and another what was certainly 
a good-sized wisp of dry hay, in its 
talons. These windrows were soon 
dropped after the birds alighted, 
fe thought they were picked up with 
grasshoppers — literally 
all over the marsh. 
