372 MASS. (Middlesex Co.) 1876. Aug 4 Am still closely confined by hummers occasioned by the unfortunate winging of the hik contracted at the lake. The weather thys early was excessively oppressive. The very worst of dog day heat continued through then or four weeks without cessation. About July 25 there was a change & since these we have experienced a delightful season - uniformly cool night with clear dry and most uncomfortably warm days. I heard no coltety at all, for obvious reasons since my return home. In my daily drives I have noticed but few facts worthy of record. Eistothons Stellaris is now in full joy and undoubtedly Picacethm is well under way with them. I hear them at all times of the day when I visit Block island meadows or the willow shaded road above Belmont. Hummers have become numerous within the last week and I don't see that many of them are Northern Bird. Nearly every night I hear night herons calling to each other as they circle over the Brighton marshes and on several occasions I have seen them lean fast. So owells join at dusk. A few are also brooding in what is left of the old pine swamp. Very few birds are singing now. The wood are well under way and crickets command singing several weeks since but have not reached their prime yet. This evening I saw three Bewirostra Can, while two over one place calling loudly as they always do when on wing