146 March 1874 1874. Feb. 23 Middlesex County, Mass. Salth large and ragged for a price of this handi-work. A Scissor bird that I shot was absolutely swarming with large reddish fleas, and was in a state of transition between the winter & summer plumage). This amorous inclinations are beginning to develop, as shown by their chasing one another about the trees and being bold & more noisy. I have not however heard them fond this long rattling coo or song as I should call it, yet. March 9 I have been confined to the house again for now nearly a week by a lame knee. Going into a dark room I ran against a chair bruising my knees slightly a little below the joint. I thought nothing about it at the time but a few day after it began to be sore & painful & can I can hardly broath up & down stairs; verily any story of ill luck is inexhaustible. The ground is now quite green again tho frost nearly out & the weather fine fraging nights is warm in the day time with some of the characteristic March winds as yet. Every thing seems to totoken an early Spring & I should not wonder if one had a good flight of birds before the month is out. S. Davis I see every day