218 EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
and in the succeeding winter the river rose re¬ 
markably high. So much for the muskrat sign. 
March 23, 1859. P. M. Walk to Cardinal 
Shore, and sail to Well Meadow and Lee’s Cliff. 
As we entered Well Meadow we saw a hen- 
hawk perch on the topmost plume of the tall 
pines at the head of the meadow; soon another 
appeared, probably its mate, but we looked in 
vain for a nest there. It was a fine sight, their 
soaring above our heads, presenting a perfect 
outline and, as they came round, showing their 
rust-colored tails with a whitish rump, or, as 
they sailed away from us, that slight tetering 
or quivering motion of their dark-tipt wings, 
seen edgewise, now on this side, now on that, by 
which they balanced and directed themselves. 
These are the most eagle-like of our com¬ 
mon hawks. They very commonly perch upon 
the very topmost plume of a pine, and, if mo¬ 
tionless, are rather hard to distinguish there. 
While reconnoitering we hear the peep of one 
hylodes somewhere in the sheltered recess in 
the woods, and afterward, on the Lee-side shore, 
a single croak from a wood frog. 
We cross to Lee’s shore and sit upon the bare 
rocky ridge overlooking the flood southwest and 
northeast. It is quite sunny and sufficiently 
warm. The prospect thence is a fine one, es¬ 
pecially at this season when the water is high. 
