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304 merely olivaceous above, dark about the base of the bill, but bright lemon-yellow in a semicircle on the breast, black wings and tail, with white bar on wings and white vanes to tail. I never saw them here so early before, or probably one or two olivaceous birds I have seen and heard of in other years were this.

April 7, 1860. The purple finch (if not before). This is the rana halecina day, awakening of the meadows, though not very warm. The thermometer in Boston is said to be 49°&#65291;. Probably, then, when it is about 50°&#65291; at this season, the river being low, they are to be heard in calm places. Fishes now lie up abundantly in shallow water in the sun; pickerel, and I see several bream. What was lately motionless and lifeless ice is a transparent liquid in which the stately pickerel moves along. A novel sight is that of the first bream that has come forth from I know not what hibernaculum, moving gently over the still, brown river bottom where scarcely a weed has started. Water, is as yet only melted ice, or like that of November, which is ready to become ice.

April 8, 1840. How shall I help myself? By withdrawing into the garret and associating with spiders and mice, determining to meet myself face to face sooner or later? Completely silent and attentive I will be this hour and the