294 EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
oaks. The last looks larger on his perch than 
flying. The snipe, too, then, like crows, robins, 
black-birds, and bens, is found near the water¬ 
side where is the first spring (alders, white ma¬ 
ples, etc., etc.), and there, too, especially, are 
heard the song- and tree-sparrows and pewees, 
and even the hen-hawk, at this season, haunts 
these for his prey. Inland, the groves are al¬ 
most completely silent as yet. The concert of 
song- and tree-sparrows at Willow Row is now 
very full, and their different notes are com¬ 
pletely mingled. See a single white-bellied 
swallow dashing over the river. He, too, is at¬ 
tracted by the early insects that begin to be 
seen over the water. It being Fast Day, we on 
the water hear the loud and musical sound of 
bells ringing for church in the surrounding 
towns. 
April 6, 1853. 6 A. M. To Cliffs. The robin 
is the singer at present, such is its power and 
universality, being heard both in garden and 
wood. Morning and evening he does not fail, 
perched on some elm or the like, and in rainy 
days it is one long morning or evening. The 
song-sparrow is still more universal, but not so 
powerful. The lark, too, is equally constant 
morning and evening, but confined to certain 
localities, as is the blackbird to some extent. 
The bluebird with feebler, but not less sweet, 
