oaks. The last looks larger on his perch than
flying. The snipe, too, then, like crows, robins,
black-birds, and hens, 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,



EAELY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 295

warbling, helps fill the air, and the phebe does
her part. The tree-sparrow, Fringilla hiemalis,
and fox-colored sparrows make the meadow-
sides or gardens where they are flitting, vocal,
the first with its canary-like twittering, the sec-
ond, with its lively ringing trills or jingle.
