page [105] 29-30 Jun 1900 (seq. 106)

105
A Trip to Concord, Mass.
1900
June 29-30
Warm on the 29th, very cool with heavy wind
on 30th.

I took the 5.01 P.M. train at Arlington, yesterday
the 29th for West Bedford, where Gilbert met me, and
escorted me through the field & woods to the Concord
River where the canal dug through the Great
Meadows reaches the shore. I saw a fine
example of the Garter Snake in the path way.
The three golden stripes that run down his
body, one on the back, and one on either side
are very conspicuous. We crossed the river to
the cabin and I was pleased to see a
Bittern fly over us, as we were poling
through the Meadows, and drop out of sight
in the long grass. Five times during my
visit I saw a Bittern on the wing. Will
met me and we had a nice supper
of liver, bacon, biscuits, and delicious straw-
berries, soon after our arrival that we
might take as long a stroll as possible
before dark. We walked around Ball’s Hill
and over Pine Ridge & Davis Hill, examining the
plants, and landscape, and noting the
birds. We noted 23 species which I shall
append later. A Quail was calling Bob-
White across the river at intervals, a Swamp
Sparrow was trilling in the low land, and
Swifts, Barn, Eave & Bank Swallows were
sailing over the marshes, catching the insects
that form their daily meal. Occasionally
the flight-song of our oven bird would be