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°＋. Probably, then, when it is about 50°＋ 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
