Walter Deane papers

95 1900 June 17 Sunday. A cloudy, cool, pleasant day.

Stony Brook Reservation. I went out with H.A. Purdie this morning by train to Forest Hills and electrics along Washington St. to the Stony Brook Reservation, reaching there at 9.45. We spent two hours very pleasantly walking about. It is a beautiful bit of country intersected by winding woodpaths. Woods cover the greater part of the territory, and the hills afford charming views. Turtle Pond, the modern name for the old Muddy Pond, the source of Muddy Brook, is prettily situated among hills and close by the main drive-way. I saw Hottonia inflata growing abundantly in the Brook near its source. The strangely inflated stems remind one forcibly of Equisetum. We climbed Perch Rock, or "The Perch", and eminence overlooking the pond and adjoining country. A Kingbird was perched on the dead branch of a neighboring tree, busily engaged in his morning repast, and a Chestnut-sided Warbler sang near us.

Butterflies. The pretty Little Wood-Satyr, Cissia eurytus, was abundant where-ever we went. They love the partial shade and flutter along the wood paths and among the forest trees. The American Copper was abundant and I saw one Yellow and one Black Swallow-tail. I took a Silver-spotted Hesprid (Epargyreus tityrus), and a Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos). I also found Juvenalis Dusky-Wing (Thanaos juvenalis), quite abundant. I took a few specimens.

96 1900 June 17 (2) Of birds we noted about two dozen species, consisting in the main of the common species. Blue Golden-Winged Warblers are singing every where I find it hard to hear their note unless I am listening very intently. It is a very faint zee-zee-see. I will append a list to show what birds were singing: — Coccyzus americanus 1 x {in full song} Colaptes auratus lutens 1 x {in full song} Tyrannus tyrannus 2 or 3 Contopus virens 1 x {in full song} Cyanocitta cristata 1 or more x {in full song} Corvus americanus 1 Quiscalus quiscula aeneus 1 Passer domesticus few Melospiza fasciata Pipilo erythrophthalmus 2 (1 x {in full song}) Piranga erythromelas 1 x {in full song} Vireo olivaceus several x {in full song} Mniotilta varia several x {in full song}

Helminthophaga chrysoptera several x {in full song} {Helminthophaga ruficapilla} 1 x {in full song} Dendroica aestivapensylvanica abundant x {in full song} {Dendroica} discolor 2 or 3 x {in full song} Seiurus aurocapillus 2 or 3 x {in full song} Geothlypis trichas several x {in full song} Setophaga ruticilla {several} x {in full song} Galeoscoptes carolinensis 1 calling Harporhynchus rufus 1 Parus atricapillus 1 x {in full song} Hylocichla mustelinus 1 x {in full song} {Hylocichla} fuscescens 2 or 3 x {in full song} Merula migratoria several ————— Returning to Boston we lunched together. Then I met J.N. {Joseph Nelson} Rose at the Thorndike. He has been here since the middle of the week and has been to the house several times. We came back to the house and took a drive with Dandy and buggy. Then we went back to Boston and I dined with Rose at Mieusset, French Restaurant 840 Washington St. I was rather tired on reaching hom at 9 P.M.

Woodwardia virginica We saw a patch of Woodwardia virginica at the Reserv.

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.

97 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 June 18-23 The week has passed quietly away. The weather has varied from hot to cool and during the afternoon o fthe 22d, Class Day, heavy rains marred seriously the festivities. I went down in the evening and shook hands with the Pres. & Mrs. Eliot.

J.N. Rose The interesting events of the week were J.N. Rose's visit & a day with Dr. S.W. Woodhouse. Rose was here off and on. He dined on the 18th with us an dhe came here on the evening of the 20th. He dined with me on the 19th in town and we went to Ketih's and had a good laugh. He went back to Washington on the 21st.

Dr. S.W. Woodhouse here June 20. On Wed., the 20th, Dr. Woodhouse, having written to me previously, came out at noon to the Museum. He was on his way to his summer place in Boothbay, Me., his address being Southport, as that is the nearest place across a small bay. He reached Boston Wed. morning and left his wife & daughter in town to do some shopping while he came out to Cambridge. I went to Boston in the morning to meet him, but though he went to the "Thorndike" as agreed upon, it was much later than he expected. However he appeared at 12. Will Brewster was at Wolfeboro, N.H., but fortunately, after I had taken Dr. Woodhouse about the garden where we met Ralph Hoffmann, and after we had enjoyed a lunch on the piazza. Will appeared.

98 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 June 18-23 (No. 2) At lunch were Mrs. Brewster, Margie, Dr. Woodhouse and I. Till shortly after 3 o'clock, we three, Will, Dr. W. & I talked in the house and Museum. Dr. Woodhouse was naturalist and physician on the Sitgreave Expedition to the Zuni & Colorado Rivers in 1852 & 3. We have in the library the Report of this expedition. The party, with mules, arms & ammunition corssed the southern portion of the United States to San Diego, Cal. A military post was established in one place.

Rattlesnake bite At one place when Dr. Woodhouse was some two miles from the main party in company with a friend, he saw on the plain a rattle snake. Drawing his ramrod he struck at it and broke its back. Then looking at it he thought it was a form new to him, and so he put is gun stock on its head and took it up by the neck. Unfortunately he was a little careless and left the snake just room enough to throw its head round and strike the end of the forefinger of his left hand. This story Dr. Woodhouse told us. The blow sent a shiver through his whole frame, and he turned to an Indian, who happened to be standing by, showed him his finger and pointed to the snake. The Indian shook his head, implying that it was all up with him, and walked off. The Dr. hastened back to the main party, suckiing his finger

99 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 June 18-23 (No. 3) hard, and tying a string tightly around it. By the time he reached his party, a red line followed the lymphatic nerve up the arm to the axilla. The usual remedy, liquor, was immediately brought out, and a quat and half a pint was drunk, before the Dr. became intoxicated. The he was raving, and it took several men to hold him down. This, however, saved his life. The heated liquor coursing through his veins combatted the deadly effect of the poison which coagulates the blood and breaks up the delicate tissue of the veins, causing blood poisoning. In two days a broad stripe, perhaps an inch wide, of a dull yellow color, likened by the Doctor to the color of fly-paper, extended up his arm to the arm pit and down the sid not far from the peritoneum. The hand and arm were badly swellled and it was an anxious time. However as the days passed on complete recovery followed though part of the bones of the end of the finger came out and the finger today shows the marks of the terrible adventure. It was intensely interesting to hear this tale from the lips of the one who had been through the hard experience and who so nearly met his end.

We were told also by the Dr. that the snake was preserved in alcohol and afterwards other of the same kind were taken and preserved. When the specimens were

100 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 June 18-23 (No. 4) examined later, the snake was found to be a new species and named Crotalus lecontei. It is figured in the Report above mentioned. Why it was not named for Dr. Woodhouse, I do not know. (June 25. I find that in Sitgreave's Rpt. is a full account of the rattlesnake bite).

Dr. Woodhouse shot by an Indian On another occasion as the party were sitting by the fire in the evening, an arrow fired by a hostile Indian pierced one of hte Dr.'s legs above the knee and went so nearly through that it pushed the skin out on the other side. He pulled the weapon out, and for some time he was obliged to ride a mule even over very dangerous ledges. This story is told briefly in the Report. Just previous to this adventure, the party were sadly off for food, and whenever a mule grew weak enough to stagger under his load, his throat was cut, all the blood collected and every edible bit of the creature eaten. Indians supplied them later with food.

With stories like these, and an inspection of the Museum, the time passed all too rapidly, and at about 3.15 I took the Dr. a drive through parts of Cambridge and got him onto his car at the Square at 4.15. He was to take the 6 P.M. boat at Boston for Bath.

Dr. Woodhouse is a fine looking man, stout in figure, with white hair. He will be 79 years old in a few weeks. I have an excellent photograph which he sent me lately.

101 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 June 18-23 (No. 5) On Thurday, th 21st, I had a visit from A.B. Seymour, and a lady from Somerville, and invalid, Miss Elsie Locke, and enthusiastic lover of plants, the study of which is a great solace to her in her weakness. She was very much pleased with my collection and as appreciateive as anybody I have ever showed my plants to.

But few birds are seen in the gaden now. Every once in a while a frehs brood of English Sparrows appears to swell the mob these pests. The Catbirds evidently have their young out now, as the old birds are seen with food in their bills.

Fred Johnson has written me that one of his Flying Squirrels has been killed by the dog. Such are the danges attending the pets of boys. Fred writes a good letter, telling o fthe birds he has seen and asking questions. I think that such a boy should be encouraged and I am glad to make time to write him a letter occasionally. He gives a good description of a bird and I can always tell what he means.

One more week of pleasant work at the Museum and we shall be off to Jaffrey. Will & family are going too.

102 A Morning in Waverly, Mass. 1900 June24 Light clouds, rather warm but pleasant. This morning George & I went to Waverly and walked nearly through the "Willows", occasionally turning aside into the fields. We observed the following birds: — Night Heron 1 ✓ {in flight} Quail 2 or 3 x {in full song} at "Willows" Red-shouldered Hawk (2) ✓ {in flight} x {in full song} Osprey 1 ✓ {in flight} Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 x {in full song} Flicker 1 x {in full song} Swift 6 x {in full song} Kingbird 3 Chebee 2 x {in full song} Crow 6 x {in full song} Bobolink 3 x {in full song} Cowbird ♂ {male} ♀ {female} following a cow Red-winged Blackbird 2 x {in full song} Baltimore Oriole 1 {adult}, 2 or 3 {immature} calling Bronzed Grackle 12 x {in full song} House Sparrow 12 Chipping Sparrow 3 x {in full song} Song Sparrow 6 x {in full song} "Willows" Indigo-bird ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} nest with 4 young in patch of Rosa lucida. Saw ♀ {female} feed young twice

Barn Swallow 6 ✓ {in flight} Red-eyed Vireo 2 x {in full song} Warblering Vireo 1 x {in full song} Blk. & White Creeper 1 "Willows" Yellow Warbler 2 x {in full song} "Willows" Blck.-throated Green Warbler 1 x {in full song} Pine Warbler 1 x {in full song} Oven-bird 2 x {in full song} Maryland Yellow Throat 3 x {in full song} Redstart 1 x {in full song} Brown Thrasher 1 Catbird 1 Chickadee 6 x {in full song} & usual song Wood Thrush 1 x {in full song} Veery 2 x {in full song} & calling Robin 3 35 species

Of Butterflies the Little Wood-Satyr was abundant. I saw 2 or 3 Yellow Swallowtails and I captured a Red-spotted Purple.

I collected specimens growing by the roadside. There were about 6 plants.