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of the day was cloudy and fair by turns, rather too cool, and with too much wind.

Leaves are unfolding rapidly, and many wild flowers are in bloom — Dicentra, Erythronium, blue and yellow violets, claytonia, phlox, plum, cherry, and redbud. We also found
two blood-roots, which are not at all common here.

We took no pictures, but had an all-around good time, and got a lot of fresh air and
exercise.

We went to the lark’s nest this evening, where a calamity awaited us. Two of the young
birds have disappeared. The others are all right and have grown remarkably. Both parents
were feeding the two young which remain.

The work of destruction is completed now. Trostler phoned me today that the other young larks and the nest have been taken. I must cancel
all feelings of gratitude and pleasure earlier expressed, and revert to my former
attitude toward the immature biped denominated by Plato “the most vicious of wild
beasts.” It is sickening to think of those downy darlings starving and caressed to
death. Oh damn!

First brown thrasher

Our party of four left for Childs’ Point at 11 o’clock. The weather was mild, clear,
and windy.

First nest observed was that of a robin, admirably placed for photography, but so
near to a house that we did not dare to direct attention to it.

We had a rather quiet day, loafing in Mill Hollow. Trostler and I went up this valley to its head. We found a nest of the chickadree, in a fence post at the side of the ravine. The excavation was evidently the work
of a downy woodpecker, to the hole being about