Walter Deane (1848-1930) Papers; Journal, 1896-1899. Botany Libraries, Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Mass.

117 1897 Apr. 2 Cambridge, Mass. 4 m. Total 461 1/2 m. Spent some time in the Museum this morning studying Gulls and Terns. Practised also on thei type-writer. Dined with E.F. Williams. Took Mr. Miller there and to the Club. In the morning I wheeled up to the Glacialis. too windy to hear birds. Song sparrows plenty. I found on the shore of the Glacialis the seed of Peltandra so thickly strewn that I picked up in one spot nearly a pint in a few minutes. I showed them at the Club.

Apr. 8 7 m Total 468 1/2 m. Put a lot of plants into the mounting box this morning. Practised for over 2 hrs on the type-writer before lunch. Wheeled this P.M. nearly to Belmont. Climbed ot the top of a high hill where there was a fine view. Saw a flock of 60 bronzed grackles (Quiscalus quisccula aeneus) feeding on a burnt hill-top nearby. They were very noisy. Robins were plenty, also by the Glacialis song Sparrows. Spent a little while at the Museum looking over the books. Analyzed the Spotted Sandpiper, summer & winter plumage. It is a beautiful little bird — C. & L. dined with us. This P.M. at mother's I saw a Blue Jay —

Apr 4 This morning in Will's garden I saw about half a dozen Purple Finches, one a ♂ {male} in full color the other young ♂'s {males}, or females. They like the flowering apple tree. Did some herbarium work, sorting out of Mr. Churchill's plants a set for the Club.

118 — 1897 — — Apr. 5 — — Cambridge, Mass. Mounted [blank] sheets this P.M. Copied some of Wills notes on the type-writer and analyzed a few Terns in the Museum. [blank] Gardner a member of our Bot Club dined with us and spent the evening looking over my Herbarium —

— Apr 10 Cambridge — During the past few days I have been busy mounting some of my own plants mainly Glatfelter's Salices. I have also done some Bot. Club work at the Gray Herb. I have got Miss Anderson to mount plants for us. I have worked in the Orn. Museum, both among the birds and the books. I have analyzed a number of most interesting birds among the Steganopodes & Pygopodes & Tubinares. The Petrels, Anhigas, Shearwaters and the like are extremely interesting. I practise type-writing every day and am progressing quite well. This P.M. Geo & I drove up over Arlington Heights. We saw a few of the usual birds, Crows, Song Sparrows &c when on the hill top a Phoebe flew across the road and lit in a true near by. He flew about a little and presently stationed himself on a bar close by and sang merrily his simple notes. With my field glass I examined him with the greatest distinctness. I saw his almost black crested head, his light breast his dark tail, and the light end of the secondaries & greater wing coverts —

119 1897 Apr. 11 — Cambridge, Mass. — Colaptes auratus As I was walking down Sparks St. this noon a Flicker flew to the top of a tall Norway Spruce by Dr. Wyman's house and began to call. I counted four times in succession his call. He made the following number of calls in rapid succession — 109 — 80 — 80 — 100. As he hammered out his calls I counted by tens so my count is quite accurate —

Apr. 12 Cambridge 4 1/2 m Total 473 m This morning I wheeled up Coolidge Ave. to the Pitch Pine grove on the right of the road near the end just beyond the pond. Pine Finches were flitting about in the tree tops uttering a melodious chirp much like a canary. With my glass I could make out the markings on the breast very well. There were several of them. It was my first introduction to the bird —

Apr. 13 Cambridge 8 m. Total 481 m. Dendroica vigorsii This morning I wheeled again to the Pine Grove. This time besides Pine Finches I saw a Pine Warbler in the tree tops. He was uttering his clear sweet trill as he flew about and run over the branches. I was delighted to see him. W. Brewster returned to-day. I saw him this P.M. He had a good time in Concord and saw lots of birds. Grebe, Tree & Swamp Sparrows, Chippies Brant Geese, Red breasted Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, a Fish Hawk & Grosbeak &c.

120 1897 Apr. 15 — Cambridge, Mass. — Drove with Geo. this A.M. over Arlington Heights. Nature is beginnng to assert herself. Veratrum viride & Symplocarpus appear. Chippies (Spizella socialis) are everywhere fillling the air wiht their pretty notes. In Belmont, corner of Washington & School Sts. we saw two Flickers ( Colaptes auratus) by a hole on a large tree. Presently one flew off a short distance to a dead tree where he alternately called and drummed. I saw him distinctly with my glass. On the Heights we flushed a Partridge (blank) from the road side close by. In a neighboring field I saw Field Sparrows flying about low & an immense number of Robins (Spizella pusilla & Merula migratoria) On a tree a short way off sat a King fisher (Ceryle alcyon). At Mothers I saw from the window a Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi, possibly but probably Accipiter velox) alight on the Ailanthus tree which overshadows my Red Oak —

Apr. 17 — Cambridge Last 2 or 3 d. 8 m Total 489 m. This morning I saw a Swamp Sparrow in Will's garden. He showed it to me among the bushes back of the house. It was a pretty fellow with a red cap. I walked this afternoon up to the Glacialis and went round the swamp. Expected to see

121 1897 Apr 17 Cambridge and hear Swamp Sparrows (Melospiza georgiana) but not one seemed to be about — I had a god sight of a Flicker. I got within about 20 ft. of him as he set on a branch and as the sun shone on him I could see all his colors finely. At short intervals he uttered his call and I could plainly see his mandibles open and shut at every note. He was answering another Flicker (Colaptes auratus) that was drumming on a distant tree.

I have been type-wrting as usual and also studying in the Museum.

— Apr. 19 — Cambridge — Monday — This morning Charlie Kettell & I took the cars to Arlington and from there walked to Arlington Heights through the woods. Maples, Alders & Poplars are full flower. A very strong wind kept the birds out of sight. This afternoon Will & I drove up Concord Ave to the Slaughter House where we met a young fellow from North Ave., who had found a Black Duck's nest of 13 eggs in the Cat-tail swamp between the Slaughter House and the Fitchburg tracks. As we were following the edge of the swamp, I saw and heard singing on a fence near by a Blue Bird (Sialia sialis). When we reached the spot where we were to enter the swamp, we put on our high rubber boots, and in single file we plunged in. It was careful work, making our way over and among the tussocks, with water pretty deep between. Some ten minutes of this work took us to the spot. The Duck (Anas obscura) was not there, but