Page:Early Spring in Massachusetts (1881).djvu/308

294 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 waterside where is the first spring (alders, white maples, 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 almost completely silent as yet. The concert of song- and tree-sparrows at Willow Row is now very full, Und their different notes are completely mingled. See a single white-bellied swallow dashing over the river. He, too, is attracted 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 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,