Page:Early Spring in Massachusetts (1881).djvu/175

Rh as it were calling to some of his kind that may also have arrived.

Sitting under the handsome scarlet oak beyond the hill, I hear a faint note far in the wood which reminds me of the robin; again I hear it; it, is he, an occasional peep. These notes of the earliest birds seem to invite forth vegetation

Now I hear, when passing the south side of the hill, or first when threading the maple swamp far west of it, the tchuck tchuck of a blackbird, and after, a distinct conqueree. So it is a red-wing. Thus these four species of birds all come in one day, no doubt, to almost all parts of the town.

March 17, 1859. 6½ River rises still higher A great many musquash have been killed within a week. One says a cartload have been killed in Assabet. Perhaps a dozen gunners have been out in this town every day. They get a shilling apiece for their skins. One man getting musquash and one mink earned five or six dollars the other day. I hear their guns early and late, long before sunrise and after sunset, for these are the best times.

To Flint's Bridge by water. The water is very high and as smooth as it ever is. It is very warm. I wear but one coat, On the