just gone over making a great cackling and awaking people in their beds. They will probably 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, "Think of it, he stood half an hour to-day to hear the frogs croak, and he would n'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 remarkably 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 distinct 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.
