Walter Deane (1848-1930) Papers; Journal Jan-June 1900. Botany Libraries, Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Mass.

40 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 11

Birds in the Garden Temperature 43° at 7.30 A.M. Heavy frost last night. Clear and cold day with little wind. The large flight of birds is still kept here by the chilling weather. They are very tame and enjoy frolicking about, chasing one another and feeding. I wandered in the Garden this morning some time and at intervals in the afternoon. It is impossible to say that there is more than one bird of a particular species in so small a space where you do not see two at one time, and again so often that you felt there were several of a kind. Following is the list: — Circus hudsonius. A brown bird with long tail & white rump flew over the garden harried by a Crow this morning about 9. Colaptes auratus luteus. One shouting. Empidonax minimus. One seen all day. Corvus americanus. Two flying over. Icterus galbula. Heard singing. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. One flying over. Carpodacus purpureus. One in full song this A.M. Astragalinus tristis. Heard singing flight song. Zonotrichia albicollis. Two, one with clear white throat, one with dull white throat. Melospiza lincolnii. I saw this bird skulking along under the lilacs close to the wire fence by the lawn about 10 A.M. I was within ten feet of him and couldn't have had a better view. The buff band on the breast was striking.

41 Cambridge, Mass.

1900 May 11 (2)

Melospiza georgiana. One under the crab apple tree this P.M. He was silent. Hirundo erythrogaster. One flying over Vireo flavifrons. One in N.E. corner of garden. Mniotilta varia. Two seen all day Compsothlypis americana usneae. One singing merrily and flying about feeding this A.M. Dendroica aestiva. Three singing and feeding and darting about all day. {Dendroica} caerulescens. A beautiful male this A.M. At one time he posed on the large store by the pond opposite the walk. {Dendroica} coronata. At least two seen at intervals during the day. {Dendroica} maculosa. One seen here and there over the garden all day. At times he sang vigorously a chattering song, utterly unlike the later Pretty, pretty, Rachel. I think there must have been more than one. {Dendroica} pensylvanica One seen occasionally. {Dendroica} castanea. I had an absolutely perfect view of this bird. It was in the tall Norway sprice overlooking the S.E. corner of the garden. {Dendroica} virens. One in same Norway spruce as above. Seiurus aurocapillus. One walking about as on yesterday. One could easily get within a few feet of him. Seiurus noveboracensis. One singing this A.M. Calling at intervals this P.M. He was in various parts of the garden.

42 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 11 (3)

Geothlypis trichas. A male singing. Setophaga ruticilla. A male and either a young male or a female, flashing about all day every where. The ad. male was singing hard all the time. He never once minded my presence. Once I approached so near that with my outstretched arm I cold have reached him. He sat on the branch facing me and sang brilliantly. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. One seen all over the garden constantly. There were doubtless two. Turdus aliciae. I was with R. {Reginald ) H. Howe, Sr. and G. {Glover} M. Allen when we saw this bird. He was very tame and we couldn't have had a better view of him. He had a white eye ring and his cheeks were dark not at all buff, and his back was dark. Howe said it was surely aliciae or a bickneli. After looking up the two forms carefully in the Museum and then immediately going out and inspecting again the bird I should say aliciae. It was quite large. Turdus ustulatus swainsoni. Two seen all day. {Turdus} aonalasehkae pallasii. One seen occasionally Merula migratoria. At least four.

Total 31 species. Mr. J.W. Frees told me this A.M. he saw Zamelodia ludoviciana today, and Howe said that there were Dendrocia blackburniae in C.F. Batchelder's garden to-day.

43 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 12

Temperature 48° at 7.30 A.M. Day clear bright no wind. Mercury reached 53° at noon, and fell to 54 at 6.30 P.M. There were many birds still in the Garden do-day. I walked through the Garden several times during the day and I think I observed all that were here. The following is the list: — Empidonax minimus One. Cornus americanus One. Icterus galbula One singing. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus Five in the lindens. Zamelodia ludoviciana One singing. Mnotilta varia. One. Helminthophaga ruficapilla. One seen three times. Once it lit on a branch of the crab-apple tree very close to me and I had an excellent view of it. Compsothlypis americana usneae. Two seen all day, singing. Dendroica aestiva. One or more about all day. Once I saw two chasing each other. Singing all day. Dendroica coronata. One.

44 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 12 (2)

Dendroica maculosa. One, or more, about here & there, singing vigorously all day. Dendroica pensylvanic. One seen twice, once close to my window. Dendroica castanea One seen in the hemlocks by the big apple tree. I stood with a few feet and observed every marking as well as if it was in my hand. It was as a superb male in rich plumage. The head was rich chestnut, and the throat and sides a deep chestnut. On the side of the neck was a white patch. The sun shone on him as he poised for me. I can never have a better view. Seiurus aurocapillus. One walking about in his dainty way. Setophaga ruticilla. Two, a fine ♂ {male} and either a ♀ {female} or a young ♂ {male}. It was probably a ♀ {female} as it never sang while the ♂ {male} was singing continually and flitting about, catching insects on the wing. Galeoscoptes carolinensis Two evidently a pair, seen about, all day. Turdus aliciae. One. Same bird as of yesterday. Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. One seen several times Merula mygratoria {migratoria}. At least five. Spizella socialis. One singing. Total 20.