Walter Deane papers

33 1900 May 6 (2)

with less public demonstration was a flock of dainty little black-capped Chickadees. They too dashed about in their small way, and I saw two, evidently males, fall to the grund in the grass together in a rough and tumble fight. This all comes from the over plus energy of the mating season. One of the Crows in its reckless plunge among the trees, broke off a dead branch some three feet long and an inch thick which came tumbling to the ground. The Chickadees were uttering constantly both kinds of notes. There is a melancholy sweetness to the soft phoebenote uttered in the stillness of the woods as I heard it in the upper Reservation near the pond. It is a soft hymn of praise, in keeping with the peaceful surroundings.

A Chewink called from a neighboring tone wall, a Red-eyed Vireo warbled his monotonous yet attractive song, and I was pleased to see a Hummingbird fly rapidly past me some 15 or 20 feet overhead and disappear over the brow of the hill —

Crossing over the Trapelo Road into the lower Reservation I followed the path along the top of the kame studded with the maginficent giant white oaks. South of the kame is a small pond by which stand a huge swamp oak (Quercus bicolor) a tree rivalling in size its neighbors the white oaks. I have long known of this tree and

34 1900 May 6 (3)

I wanted to see it again.

The noisy calling of Red-winged Blackbirds and Bronzed Grackles from a near marsh just outside the Reservation drew me to that spot and there I saw and heard an interesting lot of birds all in the space of a few minutes. A pair of Black Ducks rose from among the bushes in the water and circled several times so near me that I saw distinctly their bright red legs. They flew slowly and with perfect ease among the branches of the trees in the swamp, and soon dropped out of sight in some sheltered pool. I saw them twice again later. The Red-wings were a splendid plumage and when sailing from tree to tree or outspread wing, the scarlet flashing of ther epaulets was beautiful to see. When sitting with folded wings they conceal this brilliant color, showing mainly the duller yellow that borders the scarlet.

Black and White Creepers were darling about, clearing each other among the foliage, a Swamp Sparrow with red head, was skulcking among the bushes close to the water, a Chebee was busily catching flies, and Myrtle Warbler were darling about. All was life and animation which always comes with the opening spring. Flowers must bloom and ripen their seeds, and birds must mate and raise their young. Overhead Swifts and Barn Swallows were circling and chattering as the feed. It was pleasant to hear fro the first time from the bushes the familial song of the Marlyand-Yellowthroat.

35 1900 May 6 (4)

Walking round on to the embankment of the Massachusetts Central R.R. which gave a good view of the swamp, I met two small boys with a large, black dog. They showed me a large Water Snake sunning himself on a plank that was floating in the stream near the fork of the embankment. It was at least three feet and was coiled two or three times, his tail stretching out on the plank, and his head resting in the middle. I watched him for some time through my glass, and made out distinctly his markings. His body is brown with irregular reddish brown transverse bands. Presently one of the boys tossed a small stone at him. It struck the plank, and like a flash of lightning, the snake slipped into the black water and disappeared. I cannot imagine a movement more rapid.

The boys were bright little fellows, well acquainted with the common objects of nature about them. They live in the neighborhood. I walked some way down the track with them and was shown a Flicker's hole in one of the telegraph poles by the track, and about ten feet above the ground. They had seen the bird go in and out. Two more small boys joined us and we strolled back toward the Waverley Station. The boys heard Bitterns pumping every evening in the swamp. This swamp lies just north of the Fitchburg & {Massachusetts] Central tracks between the Waverley

36 1900 May 6 (5)

and the Clematis Brook Stations. I heard a Bittern pumping there one evening last spring. One of the boys caught a young Bittern last summer and kept it for some time when it escaped. I left the boys at 12.15 and they promised to meet me next Sunday again. I reached home for dinner. The following is the list of birds seen in Waverley: – Anas obscura - 2 in swamp, flying & alighting, legs red. Colaptes auratus luteus - 1 shouting. Chaetura pelagica - About 6. Trochilus colubris - One flew about 20 ft. over my head in the upper Reservation. Sayornis phoebe - 1 singing same place as a week ago. Empidonax minimus - 1 in swamp, silent. Corvus americanus - Flock of 8 or 10 in Reservation, active and noisy. Agelaius phoeniceus - {Flock of} 12 or more, 3 of them ♀♀ {2 females} swamp Quiscalus quiscula aereus - {Flock} of 15 or 20 in swamp. Passer domesticus - Here, there & every where. Astragalinus tristis - Flock of a dozen, singing – Melospiza fasciata - 2 or 3 singing in swamp. {Melospiza} georgiana - 2 in swamp, singing. Pipilo erythrophthalmus - 1 calling by stone wall. Hirundo erythrogaster - {Flock} of ten or so. Vireo olivaceus, 1 singing in upper Reservation. Mniotilta varia, 3, 1 singing, 2 chasing each other. Dendroica aestiva. 1 singing in swamp. {Dendroica} coronata. 1 in swamp, feeding. Geothlypis trichas. 1 singing in low bushes in swamp Parus atricaphillus. {Flock} of 6 or nine, chasing each other, [symbol written]. Merula migratoria - Several —

37 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 10

Last night cold with frost. To-day cold, with cloud and sunshine alternating. A little snow fell this afternoon, merely a few flakes, followed by rain for a few minutes.

Birds in the Garden There must have been a heavy flight of birds fron the south last night. The cold weather kept them here today. I have been all day as usual in the Museum, with occasional casual walks round the garden. The place has been full of birds and they have been surprisingly tame. The Olive-backed Thrushes that are usually shy, would stand in the path and allow an approach with in twenty feet, as would the Catbirds, while the Oven-bird would walk within three paces of it me. They were over the Garden all day. At one time I saw at one place, a Red start, Catbird and Olive-backed Thrush. Every afternoon I append a list of the birds observed in the garden that day to the Garden List. This day, however, has been so unusual that I shall make a list here of what I have seen: – Empidonax minimus. One, seen several times, very tame, feeding. Corvus americanus. One, flying over, cawing. Icterus galbula. Two ♂♂ {males} singing. Astragalinus tristis Heard singing in the cedar by the house.

38 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 10 (2)

Zonotrichia albicollis Two, calling occasionally, one with very white throat one with dull-colored throat Hirundo erythogaster. Four flying over Mniotilta varia One on the willow by the lilacs. Dendroica aestiva One, singing actively all day — Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea. One feeding on the ground by the old pond, very tame. Seiurus aurocapilla One walking daintily over the garden all day. I saw him whenever I wnt out. He would walk close up to me, within three paces, and I never had a more beautiful view of the species. Seiurus noveboracensis One, calling occasionally, he came very near my window once. Yesterday he sang beautifully. Geothlypis trichas One ♂ {male}. I would walk up within a few feet of him, and he would toss his little black fronted face into the air and pass forth his sweet loud song. Setophaga ruticilla. One ♂ {male} in exquisite plumage. He was very fond of bath in a dish of water just outside my window and them sitting in the crab apple tree within a few feet of me, preen his feathers, and give me a fine view of him.

39 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 10 (3)

Galeoscoptes carolinensis. Two birds, very tame, first seen by the new pond. They were here and there all day, seldom out of sight. They were silent, though one sang yesterday. Merula migratoria At least four, flying about singing and feeding all day. There may have been more but it is hard to count them. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni. Two hopping about, eating worms, and occasionally clucking. They were very tame for Thrushes. I saw them a dozen or more times. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. One flying over —

Yesterday I saw in the Garden a Parula Warbler (Compsothlypis americana usneae). Miss Emily Chapman told me this evening of the large number of birds about their house to-day on Buckingham St. Among other were a Magnolia and a Chestnutsided Warbler (Dendroica maculosa and {Dendroica} pensylvanica).

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.