Walter Deane papers

63 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 20 Mercury 52° {degrees}, 8 A.M., 56° {degrees}, 6 P.M. Cloudy and very cool all day. Air bracing —

Sunday. This morning I spent one hour in the Garden from about 9 to 10 and saw 21 species of birds. It is a remarkable season.

Most of the day I have been busy in the house writing letters and distributing plants. M. & I took the cars at 7 P.M. and went to Kingsley Park where we enjoyed the beautiful view over the Pond. Saw the following: — Contopus virens 1 x {in full song}, Chordeiles virginianus 1 ✓ {in flight}, x {in full song}, Sturnella magna 1 x {in full song}, Melospiza fasciata 1 x {in full song}, Hirundo erythrogaster (36) {circled} ✓ {flock in flight} — All near Fresh Pond.

Following is the list of the Garden birds: — Colaptes auratus lutens, 1 x {in full song} Corvus americanus, 1 x {in full song} Icterus galbula ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Carpodacus purpureus, m. ♂ {male} x {in full song} Astragalinus tristis, (4) {circled} {in flock}, 1 an ad ♂ {male} x {in full song} Zonotrichia albicollis, 1 Spizella socialis, 1 Melospiza georgiana, 1 Vireo olivaceus, (2) {in flock} Vireo flavifrons, (2) {in flock} Compsothlypis americana usneae, 1 x {in full song} Dendroica aestiva, 1 x {in full song} {Dendroica} striata 1, a fine ♂ {male}, feeding for 5 min. on insects on the larch. Seiurus aurocapillus I saw 2 at once — 1 was x {in full song} {Seiurus} noveboracensis, 1 x {in full song}, busily feeding.

Geothlypis trichas, 1 x {in full song} Wilsonia canadensis, ♀ {female} seen several by the pond. Setophaga ruticilla, 1 x {in full song} Galeoscoptes carolinensis, 1 x {in full song} Hylocichla ustulatus swainsonii aliciae, (2) {circled} feeding at the north end. Merula migratoria, 5 21 species seen in one hour. ——————

64 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 21 Cloudy with occasional glimpses of the sun. Showers at intervals all day, some of them very smart.

During the day I took a few walks through the garden to examine the bird life. There are still a good many birds about. The Robin's nest which I noticed on the 17th had a bird sitting on it yesterday. The Catbird still sings daily of the Parkman's Apple tree is by, and the apple blossoms are diminishing. The Redbuds & Flowering Dogwood & Silver Bell Tree are magnificent just now. Azaleas are coming out.

Following is the Garden bird list: — Chaetura pelagica, (2) in flock Corvus americanus, 1 Icterus galbula, 3 ♂ {males} x {in full song} Astragalinus tristis, (4) in flock Melospiza georgiana, 1 Zamelodia ludoviciana, 1 seen by Gilbert Vireo olivaceus, 1 Compsothlypis americana usneae, 1 x {in full song} Dendroica aestiva, 1 x {in full song} {Dendroica} caerulescens, 1 ♀ {female} {Dendroica} maculosa, 1 seen by Mrs. Kettell Seiurus aurocapillus, 1 {Seiurus} noveboracensis, 1 x {in full song} Geothlypis trichas, 1 Wilsonia canadensis, 1 {male} x {in full song} Setophaga ruticilla 2x {in full song} evidently a pair.

Galeoscoptes carolinensis, 1 x {in full song} Hylocichla fuscescens, 1 {Hylocichla} ustulatus swainsonii aliciae (2) {in flock} Merula migratoria, 6

65 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 22 Hylocichla aliciae A clear, cool day, air breezy. Will Brewster returned this morning and showed him a Thrush in the garden that had been puzzling me for the past two days. I have thought it was a rather odd Oliveback, there were two of them, but this morning I made up my mind they were Graycheeks. Will saw one of them and said it was a good Gray-cheek. I shall not be puzzled again. I was also pleased to see this afternoon a ♀ {female} Wilson's Warbler. A ♂ {male} Canadian Warbler bathed in the saucer by my window this morning, and the Catbird frequently drank from it.

Antrostomus vociferus The event of the day came this afternoon. All the morning the Robins were crying about the apple tree near the lilacs and we suspected a cat or an owl, but could see nothing. After lunch I went over to the tree to get another sight, and I saw that the trouble centered in a certain part of the about 15 ft. from the ground. Will came out and quickly spied, resting flat on a sloping branch some 5 in. in diameter, and sitting lengthwise with the branch, a female Whip-poor-will. We were much excited and spent a long time watching her. Her eyes were closed and she was absolutely motherless. her brown color suited so well her surroundings that but for the

66 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 22 (2) noisy Robins she would never have been discovered. It was a beautiful spot to spend the day in, a bower of apple blossoms shading the spot from the suns rays, and a cool gentle breeze. With my glass I could easily see every marking, the black priniaries with broken rufous bands., the absence of the white throat band, the small bill, long bustles &c. Will exposed four plates from below, and then hurried off to Scituate. Gilbert Carl & I then tried to get the camera on a ladder, but the bird was on the alert and as the camera approached her, the large eyes opened wide and off she darted to a near branch, not more than one inch through where we did not disturb her, though we watched her for some time. M. and the Doctor came and saw her, and Mr. Kettell exposed 6 plates from the ground and not being able to get the bird in the finder, he aimed the camera at her and shot off the pictures. After I left he took one or two more pictures. George Deane & Mr. Matthews dined with us. Garden birds: — Antrostomus vociferus 1 } ♀ {female} Empidonax minimus 1 Corvus americanus 3 Icterus galbula 2 ♂♂ {males} 1♀ {female} Quiscalus quiscula aeneus, 2 (2) {in flock} Astragalinus tristis Spizella socialis Melospiza georgiana Vireo olivaceus

Vireo flavifrons 1 x {in full song} Dendroica aestiva 1 x {in full song} Wilsonia canadensis 1 ♂ {male} {Wilsonia} pusilla1 ♀ {female} Setophaga ruticilla ♂ {male} ♀ {female} Galeoscoptes carolinensis 1 x {in full song} Hylocichla aliciae (2) {in flock} Fide W.B. Merula migratoria 6 Hawk followed by 3 Crows.

67 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 23 Mercury 55° {degrees}, at 7.30 A.M. Day cleaer and pleasant.

While there did not seem to be many birds in the garden to-day, yet I listed 15 sps. The Catbird stills sings and wanders over the entire place. He drinks from my saucer and sits on a branch two feet from my window. To-day a ♂ {male} Redstart, a Yellow Warbler and a ♂ {male} Canadian Warbler took a bath. The Canadian Warbler after talking a good splashing sat close by me on a branch and I watched him preening his feathers for some time. I could see every line and feather. The white eye ring is a very diagnostic character. The necklace of black spots across his yellow breast makes him a beautiful bird. One Alice's Thrush is still here. The Silver-bell tree and Flowering Dogwood are in their glory, as is also the Red bud, and Porter apple tree. Cypripedium acaule is sending up its flowers. C. spectabile is aobut 2 or 3 inches up. Following is the garden list: — Icterus galbula 2 ♂♂ {males} x {in full song} Carpodacus purpureus 1 x {in full song} Zonotrichia albicollis 1 Spizella socialis 1 x {in full song} Melospiza georgiana 1 Zamelodia ludoviciana ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Mniotilta varia 1 Dendroica aestiva 1 x {in full song} {Dendroica} maculosa 1 Seiurus noveboracensis 1

Geothlypis trichas Wilsonia canadensis Setophaga ruticilla ♂ {male} ♀ {female} Galeoscoptes carolinensis ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Hylocichla aliciae 1 Merula migratoria 4 Mrs. B. saw the ♀ {female} Catbird this evening. She saw the two together.

68 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 24 Day cloudy, chilly, sun out at intervals. I have been out in the garden but little to-day. Will has reported most of the birds. He has been working among the plants. I saw the Alice's Thrush, and Will heard an Olive-back. While lunching in the veranda, he saw a female Humming-bird. The Garden is in beautiful condition now. List of Garden birds: — Coccyzus erythrophthalmus 1 Ceryle alcyon 1 ✓ {in flight} x {in full song} Trochilus colubris ♀ {female} Tyrannus tyrannus 2 Icterus galbula 2 x {in full song} Quiscalus quiscula aeneus 2 ✓ {in flight} Astragalinus tristis x {in full song} Dendroica aestiva 1 x {in full song} {Dendroica} maculosa 1 {Dendroica} striata 1 Seiurus aurocapillus 1 {Seiurus} noveboracensis 1 Geothlypis trichas ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Wilsonia canadensis ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Setophaga ruticilla ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Galeoscoptes carolinensis ♂ {male} x {in full song} Hylocichla aliciae 1 {Hylocichla} ustulatus swainsonii ♂ {male} x {in full song} Merula migratoria 4 Spizella socialis 1 x {in full song}

69 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 25 A cloudy, rather chilly day. I have been as the Museum all day as usual. Will has been at work among his plants in the garden.

This afternoon, we all went down to Brattle Hall to hear Frank M. Chapman give a bird lecture. He exhibited some fine lantern slides most of which I have seen before. I shook hands with him before the lecture.

The list of garden birds was rather small to-day. I saw all except those marked W.B. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus 1 x {in full song} W.B. Corbus americanaus 1 x {in full song} Icterus galbula 1 x {in full song} Spizella socialis 1 x {in full song} W.B. Dendroica asestiva 1 x {in full song} {Dendroica} maculosa 1 W.B. Geothlypis trichas 1 x {in full song} ♀ {female} Wilsonia canadensis ♂ {male} ♀ {female} Setophaga ruticilla ♂ {male} Galeoscoptes carolinensis ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Hylocichla ustulatus swainsonii 1 Merula migratoria [9?] Seiurus aurocapillus 1 W.B. {Seiurus} noveboracensis 1 W.B. Hylocichla fuscesce 1 W.B.

70 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 26 Mercury 56° {degrees}, 7.30 A.M., 60° {degrees}, 1 P.M. Day clear, quite cool In the Museum as usual. My indexing of vols. V & VI of the Nutt. Bull is progesssing. To-day I have finished through vol. VI. pt. 2 and have begun on pt. 3. I am much encouraged now about the result. It only fills up every second outside of the regular Museum work and several weeks of it with no let-up means the abosorption of much nervous energy. I began this work on [blank] for the A.O.U. {American Ornithologists' Union} Committee on Indexing.

I made the round of the Garden a few times and listed the bird life. The most interesting were a pair of Grosbeaks, showing by their actions that they were preparing to nest, I hope in the garden. I approached very near them when they were in the Silverbell tree and stood within about 5 ft. of the male. He deftly plucked a blossom, always taking it at the base, then evidently sucking the nectar by working it the flower in his bill for a few seconds before dropping it. He would pick about 5 blossoms a minute. Following is the garden list: — Corvus americanus 3 ✓ {in flight} x {in full song} Icterus galbula 2 ♂♂ {males} x {in full song} Astragalinus tristis x {in full song} Zamelodia ludoviciana ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} call. Vireo olivaceus 1 x {in full song} Dendroica aestiva 1 x {in full song} Seiurus aurocapillus 1 —————noveboracensis 1 Geothlypis trichas ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female}

Wilsonia canadensis ♂ {male} Setophaga ruticilla 1 x {in full song} Galeoscoptes carolinensis ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Hylocichla aliciae 1 {Hylocichla} ustulatus swainsonii 1 Merula migratoria 4

71 A Morning in Waverly, Mass. 1900 May 27 A warm, but clear, pleasant day. Sunday George & I took the electrics to Waverly this morning and spent two hours and a half in and near the Lower Reservation observing the birds. We walked along the railroad track as I have before and saw a number of species though most of them were residents. A Canadian Warbler was singing steadily in one place and I had a good opportunity to study its song. We saw about six in the trees by the brook. Fred Johnson whom we met showed us a Grosbeck's nest. It was very close to the brook in a shrub some 6 ft. up near the bridge that crosses the brook at the lower corner of the Reservation near the R.R. track. The female was sitting, and she allowed the boys, three of them, to pass under the nest. Fred also described a nest and eggs that were in the neighboring swamp ans were doubtless those of the Bronzed Grackle. A Catbird was singing almost constantly, we certainly saw three or four of them. I saw an Alice's Thrush, and a Veery. The latter was hopping about in the meadow quite near us and I am more and more struck by the deep cinnamon brown color of the back and tail as compared with any of the other thrushes. Indeed the whole upper part of the bird including the wings seemed to resemble exactly the color of the Hermit'ts tail. The strong buff on the breast and the very

72 A Morning in Waverly, Mass. 1900 May 27 (2) weak spots also characterize this species. The Veery after flying off inot concealment among the low growth sang beautifully, pouring forth his rich rolling notes, descending in scale. He is a glorious singer. Black-poll Warblers in one place were abundant. We saw as many as six.

The huge Waverly oaks are just putting forth their leaves and we sat for a while under the shade of one, a giant Quercus alba, behind the kameb y the pond. Soldier turtles were basking in the sun, on bits of floating wood, and a brillian Scarlet Tanager was flying from tree to tree, singing as he went. He is a gorgeous bit of scarlet and black among the tender green foliage of the oaks. All these famous Waverly oaks are the White Oak, with one exception, a large tree by the pond, and close to where we were sitting. This is a Swamp White Oak a tree common in our region in wet places.

Of Butterflies the American Copper was abundant, and I captured a simple speciman of a Hespeid, whose species I shall determine later. Cabbage Butterflies a Rapae were abundant.

Of the smaller plants the most interesting one I saw as Comandra umbellata growing by the railroad track.