196 May 1874 At the Eastern end of the willow meadow, a nestling in the bushes, I pulling up my lawn quickly, saw a pair of grail so near one that I was tempted to strike at them with my whip; watched them for some time till they finally walked over a low stone wall and disappeared. This tannum not to say chumpains at this season is quite remarkable. The bob white of the male will be heard in a few days more. In the afternoon saw a pair of Herondo broder copulating, the female sitting on the van of our corn and reducing the attention of the male more than a dozen times in succession) he cattering continually, a rattling pesto resembling that produced by drawing a small stick across the bars of a fencer or a watchman. Rattle turned slowly, Sunday May 24 Cloudy and warm. Have spent my days during the past week principally in reading and writing, bins still laid up by our barn, which although the soil has quite molded, is still my stiff and tow. The season is now at its very briliest, pear & apple trees in full blossom, the cherry trees getting,