248 EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
just gone over making a great cackling and 
awaking people in their beds. They will prob¬ 
ably settle in the river. 
March 28, 1853. -asked me to read the 
life of Dr. Chalmers, which, however, I did not 
promise to do. Yesterday, Sunday, she was 
heard, through the partition, shouting to-, 
who is deaf, u Think of it, he stood half an hour 
to-day to hear the frogs croak, and he wouldn’t 
read the life of Chalmers.” 
6 A. M. To Cliffs.The woods ring with 
the cheerful jingle of the Fringilla hiemalis. 
This is a very trig and compact little bird, and 
appears to be in good condition. The straight 
edge of slate on their breasts contrasts remark¬ 
ably with the white from beneath. The short, 
light-colored bill is also very conspicuous amid 
the dark slate, and when they fly from you, the 
two white feathers in their tails are very dis¬ 
tinct at a good distance. They are very lively, 
pursuing each other from bush to bush. 
p. M. To Assabet. Saw eleven black ducks 
near the bathing-place in the Assabet flying up 
stream. Came within three or four rods of me, 
then wheeled and went down. Their faint 
quack sounded much like the croak of the frogs 
occasionally heard now in the pools. As they 
wheeled and went off they made a very fine 
whistling sound which yet, I think, was not 
made by their wings. 
