9 April 1860 – 15 April 1860

Cheney elm, many anthers shed pollen, probably 7th. Some are killed. Salix purpurea ap- parently will not open for four or five days. 2 p. M. — 44° and east wind (followed by some rain still the next day, as usual).

P. M. — To Cliffs. The hills are now decidedly greened as seen a mile off, and the road or street sides pretty brightly so. I have not seen any lingering heel of a snow-bank since April came in. Acer rubrum west side Deep Cut, some well out, some killed by frost; probably a day or two at least. Hazels there are all done; were in their prime, methinks, a week ago at least. The early willow still in prime. Salix humilis abundantly out, how long ? Epigsea abundantly out (probably 7th at least). Stow’s cold pool three quarters full of ice. My early sedge, which has been out at Cliffs ap- parently a few days (not yet quite generally), the high- est only two inches, is probably Carex wmbellata.

White-bellied swallows. Elm bud-scales have begun to strew the ground, and the trees look richly in flower. 60 at 2 P.M. Hear a pigeon woodpecker’s prolonged cackle.

P.M.—TI go up the Assabet to look at the sweet-gale, which is apparently [ ?] out at Merrick’s shore. It is abundantly out at Pinxter Swamp, and has been some time; so I think I may say that the very first opened April Ist (q. v.). This may be not only because the season was ‘early and warm, but because the water was so low, — or would that be favorable ? At first I had felt disinclined to make this excursion up the Assabet, but it distinctly occurred to me that, perhaps, if I came against my will, as it were, to look at the sweet-gale as a matter [of] business, I might dis- cover something else interesting, as when I discovered the sheldrake. As I was paddling past the uppermost hemlocks I saw two peculiar and plump birds near me on the bank there which reminded me of the cow black- bird and of the oriole at first. I saw at once that they were new to me, and guessed that they were crossbills, which was the case, -—~ male and female. The former was dusky-greenish (through a glass), orange, and red, the orange, etc., on head, breast, and rump, the vent white; dark, large bill; the female more of a dusky slate- color, and yellow instead of orange and red. They were very busily eating the seeds of the hemlock, whose cones were strewn on the ground, and they were very fearless, allowing me to approach quite near.

A strong westerly wind in forenoon, shak- ing the house. ' @p.mM.—44°. To Easterbrooks’s. Benzoin not for two or three days at least. Gold- finches the 11th and in winter.

Strong northwest wind and cold. Thin ice this forenoon along meadow-side, and lasts all day. 2 p. mM. — Thermometer-37. ‘To Conantum. At Conantum pitch pines hear the first pine warbler. Have not heard snipe yet. Is it because the meadows, having been bare, have not been thawed ? See ripples spread fan-like over Fair Haven Pond, from Lee’s Cliff, as over Ripple Lake. Crowfoot abundant; say in prime. A cedar under the Cliff abundantly out; how long? Some still not out. Say 13th. Mouse-ear. Turritis about out; say 16th. Some little ferns already fairly unfolded, four or five inches long, there close under the base of the rocks, apparently Woodsia [lvensis ? See and hear the seringo, — rather time [stc] com- pared with song sparrow. Probably see bay-wing (surely the 16th) about walls. The arbor-vitee appears to be much of it effete. At this season of the year, we are continually expect- ing warmer weather than we have.