March 1874 Upon so, on various throats I think to day, found much much more easy of manipulation than the R. butchirii(?) that I operated upon a few weeks since; they are not in fact harder to skin through specimens of L. agentatus. The inner coat of down nearest the skin was almost as impenetrable as felt & must be a most efficient protection against the cold: They are more so than very fat in this respect differing from L. agentatus which is much always laden with fat at this season. March 15 The last four or five days have been very windy & exceptionally cold for the season (the thermometer from 10° to 26°). To day the weather has moderated & things look more springlike. This morning there was a flock of about 20 juncos in our garden the males singing loudly. I think they are arrivals although there has been a small flock resident in the neighborhood & rather more heard mentioned anywhere here than usual. H.A. Sordis who has just returned from a trip to N.Y. reports Philadelphia papers (as places & lines prospector at Plainfield N.J. on the 3rd (March))