51 
UPTON, MAINE 
1873 
August 31.- September 2. 
fire and put me out. On the way back B. drove out another 
flock of mergansers from the upper pond and I made a good double 
shot, dropping both birds, but loosing one wing tipped in the 
high grass. I also shot a Falco eolumbarius and B. a bittern. 
In P.M. we paddled down to the mouth again and sailed from 
there, close hauled up to the narrows where we lay for ducks 
until the steamer came along without getting a shot. The swal¬ 
lows are all, or nearly all, gone. The marsh west of the house 
is now filled with a chirping lisping throng of sparrows, P.sav¬ 
anna being largely represented. Rhysolitarius and T.macularius 
are daily growing less numerous and small hawks are beginning 
to increase in numbers. 
August 31 . (Sunday) Cloudy and clearing. Spent all the day 
about the house with Barstow. 
September 1 . Cloudy and chilly with east wind. In A.M. went 
down to the mouth of the river with B. and he shot a y.y. bittern 
Saw a Charadrius virginicus. In P.M. skinned the bittern and 
collected some Spanish moss for packing. This morning I shot a 
y.y. Ac.fuscus flying over the barn. Ec. migratories are col¬ 
lecting into large flocks. 
September 2 . Showery and clearing with heavy N.W. winds. Took 
the steamboat with B. this morning up to the outlet. Dr. Ambler 
and party also on board, bound for ”the retreat”. The steamer 
stuck going over the bar at the outlet and we were delayed two 
hours there: finally getting across we rode to Leonards pond 
where we disembarked and B. started up, leaving me stationed at 
