76 March 16 MIDDLESEX CO., MASS. went before their time into that Spirit World which is to be the final resting place of all mortal beings. After gazing pleasantly awhile we started and I got back by dark having shot nothing saw a pair of redstarts, I find the crimson of their foreheads is fast intensifying with the advance of the season. They make now sing at all times of the day and the species is as plentifully separated here as ours. March 22 The last two days of last week (19th to 20th) were cold and Monday about 6 inches of snow falling Saturday, this morning the ther. stood @ 5° at Sunrise but by 9 A.M. it was about [illegible] but the snow did not thaw at all during the day except where directly exposed to the sun's many rays. Left immediately after breakfast taking my usual winter route through the farm I saw nothing of importance until I approached the cedar ridge when pausing a moment to listen before I stepped out through the trees I suddenly caught sight of a large bird approaching and standing perfectly motionless, the craft instant he was within ten yards of me and fell a victim to easy hiking charge of just shot at not over fifteen paces. It proved an immature S. Bortus himatus, a bird of the year I think; the ovaries were