Page:Early Spring in Massachusetts (1881).djvu/94

80, and then other slight warblings as if farther off. Was surprised to see the bird within seven or eight rods on the top of an oak on the orchard's edge under the hill. But he appeared silent while I heard others faintly warbling and twittering far in the orchard. When he flew I heard no more, and then I suspected that he had been ventriloquizing, as if he hardly dared open his mouth yet while there was so much winter left. It is an overcast and moist, but rather warm, afternoon. He revisits the apple trees and appears to find some worms. Probably not till now was his food to be found abundantly. Saw some fuzzy gnats in the air The river channel is nearly open everywhere. Saw on the alders by the river side front of Hildreth's a song-sparrow quirking its tail. It flew across the river to the willows and soon I heard its well-known dry tchip-tchip. March 7, 1858. Walking by the river this, it being half open, and the waves running pretty high, the black waves, yellowish where they break over ice, I inhale a fresh meadowy spring odor from them which is a little exciting, It is like the fragrance of tea to an old tea-drinker.

March 7, 1859. $6 1⁄2$ To Hill. I came out to hear a spring bird, the ground generally covered with snow yet, and the channel of the