Walter Deane papers

73 A Morning in Waverly, Mass. 1900 May 27 (3) am still in bud, though just ready to burst into flower. We reached home before dinner.

Following is the list of Waverly birds: — Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Black-billed Cuckoo. We heard one sing three times. Colaptes auratus lutens. Flicker, Golden-winged Woodpecker Saw two or three, and heard one shouting. Chordeiles virginianus. Night Hawk. At 11.15 AM. we saw a flock of seven flying west. Chaetura pelagica. Chimney Swift. Saw three or four, they were silent. Tyrannus tyrannus Saw two or three, busily feeding. Corvus americanus. Crow. Saw but one. Agelaius phoenicius. Red-winged Blackbird. Saw many, both ♂♂ {males} & ♀♀ {females} in and about the swamp, at least twenty. Icterus palbula. Baltimore Oriole. Saw a few, and heard them singing. Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. Bronzed Grackle. Numerous in the swamp and flying about at least twenty. Spizella socialis . Chipping Sparrow. Heard one. Melospiza fasciata Song Sparrow. Numerous and in full song. We saw at least a dozen. Zamelodia ludoviciana. Rose-breasted Grosbeck. Saw about four males and heard singing. Saw ♀ {female} on nest, as recorded above.

74 A Morning in Waverly, Mass. 1900 May 27 (4) Piranga erythromelas. Scarlet Tanager Saw a male for some time. He was singing. Hirundo erythrogaster. Barn Swallow. Saw but one. Tachycineta bicolor. White-bellied Swallow. Saw but one. Ampelis cedrorum. Cedar bird. We saw about five. They were feeding. Vireo olivaceus. Red-eyed Vireo We saw two. Dendroica aestiva. Yellow Warbler. There were about six seen this moring. We did not hear much singing. Dendroica caerulescens. Black-throated Blue Warbler. Saw one, a ♂ {male} in a high tree. He was singing zee-zee-zee. Dendroica striata Black-poll Warbler. We saw at least six. Geothlypis trichas. Maryland Yellow-throat. Saw four or five, both sexes. Wilsonia canadensis. Canada Warbler. Saw about six. One was singing steadily. Setophaga ruticilla. Redstart. Saw one. He was singing peculiarly. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. Catbird. Saw two or three — One sang finely. Hylocichla fuscescens. Wilson's Thrush, Veery. Saw one, and heard him sing. Hylocichla aliciae. Alice's or Gray-cheeked Thrush Saw one. Merula migratoria. Robin — Saw several.

75 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 27 (5) I walked through the garden once this morning and saw a few birds. It seems hardly necessary to record them, except that I have entered everything during this great migratory wave which is nearly over: Coccyzus erythrophthalmus 1 x {in full song} Quiscalus quiscula aeneus 1✓ {in flight} Setophaga ruticilla 1 x {in full song} Galeoscoptes carolinensis ♂ {male} ♀ {female} Hylocichla ustulatus swainsonii 1 Merula migratoria 3 ————— Coutopus viren I heard a Wood Pewee in Dr. Wyman's place this afternoon.

76 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 28 Mercury 49° {degrees}, 7.30 A.M., 51° {degrees}, 1 P.M., 50° {degrees}, 6 P.M. It has been a cold, chilly, disagreeable day, heavy clouds over hanging the skies and occasional rain drops.

Solar eclipse The famous eclipse of the sun occurred this morning between 7.53 and 10.31. 92% of the sun was covered here. The bad weather rendered all observations here impossible. By gazing at the clouds for a couple of hours I got five or six good glimpses of the sun at various states of the eclipse. The greatest period was at 9.12 and I got good views a little before and after that time. At about 9.30 I saw the sun through light clouds for seven or eight minutes. The thin clouds took the place of smoked glass and the outline of the sun was very clear. The appearances were this: [four drawings]. So I saw something of it. The heavy clouds quite took away any effect of diminished ight, and the appearance was merely that of a dark heavy day. I should hardly have noticed any difference had I not know of the event. Whether because of the eclipse or not the Robins say very continuously about 9 o'clock, and the Water Thrush in the garden sang steadiy, as ten minutes at about 9.10.

Evening papers report fine weather South were the eclipse was total.

77 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 28 (2) I worked through the garden two or three times to-day. The Silver bell tree (Halesia tetraptera) is at its very height. The ground below is strewn with the dainty bells. The Flowering Dogwood by the pond is also in its perfection. The foliage is now very dense throughout the garden. Some migrants still linger. Following is a list of to-day's birds: — Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Black-billed Cuckoo. Singing several times.Heard it also from my window at home at 8 and at 10 P.M. Icterus galbula x {in full song} Zamelodia ludoviciana. Rose-breasted Grosbeck. Saw ♂ {male} x {in full song} several times. Heard the ♀ {female}. Dendroica aestiva Yellow Warbler. 1 x {in full song} {Dendroica} striata Black-poll Warbler Saw a ♂ {male} three times, and a ♀ {female} twice. The ♀ {female} once bathed in the pond. Seiurus noveboracensis. Water Thrush. Saw one. He sang steadily at 9.10 A.M. several minutes. Wilsonia canadensis. Canada Warbler. Saw ♂ {male}. Setophaga ruticilla Redstart. 1 x {in full song} Vireo olivaceus. Red-eyed Vireo. I saw two chasing each other through the trees, clashing with unerring accuracy through the dense foliage. They were calling constantly. They completed several large circuits before stopping. Galeoscoptes carolinensis Cat bird. 1 x {in full song} Hylocichla ustulatus swainsonii Olive-backed Thrush. Saw one. Merula migratoria . Robin. Saw at least six.

78 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 29 Mercury 54° {degrees}, 7.30 A.M., 62° {degrees}, 6 P.M. Cloudless sky. A bright, mild glorious day without wind.

Black-billed Cuckoo singing at night. Last evening at 8 o'clock and shortly after 11 o'clock I heard the Black-billed Cuckoo uttering his mournful notes from the garden, and this evening I heard him again at 8, 9.15, 9.45 & 10.30.

Two or three walks round the garden to-day gave me a list of the birds: Coccyzus erythrophthalmus Heard one singing at night. See above. Chaetura pelagica 1 ✓ {in flight} Corvus americanus 1 x {in full song} Icterus galbula 2 ♂♂ {males} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Quiscalus quiscula aeneus 3 ✓ {in flight} Melospiza fasciata 1 Zamelodia ludoviciana ♂ {male} Dendroica aestiva 1 x {in full song} bathed in the pond. {Dendroica} striata ♂ {male} ♀ {female} seen several times. They like to eat the insects on the larch near the big apple trees by the lilacs. Seiurus noveboracensis 2. I saw one under the birches and at the same time heard one sing in another direction. Wilsonia canadensis ♂ {male} Setophaga ruticilla ♂ {male} x {in full song} Galeoscoptes carolinensis ♂ {male} x {in full song} ♀ {female} Hylocichla ustulatus swainsonii 1 Merula migratoria 6 at least.

79 A Morning in Waverly, Mass. 1900 May 30 Morning clear, warm. Afternoon cloudy cool. Mercury 80° {degrees}, 1 P.M. Decoration Day.

It has been a superb day. This morning M. & I took the electrics to Waverly and spent three hours in the Reservation, observing birds, butterflies, trees and enjoying nature. Song Sparrows were singing and perhaps they are getting ready for a second brood. Grackles were busily taking food to the neighboring swamp where their young are. The pair of Grosbecks are in the same place as last Sunday, the 27th, but they did not go near the nest and I fear some boy has taken the eggs. A Sparrow Hawk was taking a black object in its claws to its high hole at the foot of the slope leading to Waverly, where Lothrup located the nest last year. The rufous upper parts showed very distinctly.

In the pond back of the kame, soldier turtles were basking on a floating log, and as we were sitting by the lower pond in the upper reservation, we saw a very large Water Snake glide close to the edge of the pond very near us and remain for some time with his nose above water. We saw his long stout body very plainly. He was raterh a loathsome creature.

We reached home before one o'clock.

80 A Morning in Waverly, Mass. 1900 May 30 (2) List of birds seen in Waverly this morning: — Coccyzus erythrophthalmus 1 x {in full song} several times Chaetura pelagica. 20 at least. Falco sparverius. 1 carrying food to its hole in tall tree see above. Tyrannus tyrannus. 12. Contopus virens. 1 x {in full song} Corvus americanus , 5 x {in full song} Cyanocitta cristata. We started one from her nest in a small Red Cedar. [?st.] 5 ft. up. Did not molest it. Icterus galbula. 6 ♂♂ {males} Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. 20 Agelaius phoenicius, 20 Spizella socialis 1 x {in full song} Melospiza fasciata 6 x {in full song} Zamelodia ludoviciana ♂ {male} ♀ {female} Tachycineta bicolor. 4 Vireo olivaceus. 2 x {in full song} Dendroica aestiva, 4 x {in full song} {Dendroica striata}, ♂ {male} Seiurus noveboracensis, 1 by brook. Geothlypis trichas 4 x {in full song} Galeoscoptes carolinensis 3 x {in full song} Hylocichla fuscescens. 1 x {in full song} Merula migratoria, 8 Ampelis cedrorum 4 ✓ {in flight}

The young foliage of the giant oaks is very handsome.

81 Drive to the Arnold Arboretum by Jamaica Pond, Jamaica Plain, Mass. 1900 May 30 (3) This afternoon I took Mrs. Brewster's horse and carriage and first drove Dr. Coolidge, Mrs. J.B. Greenough and Helen Hinckley round Fresh Pond. Crowds of bicyclists were sitting under the trees or riding slowly about, all well-behaved. Then returning home I started off again with Mr. & Mrs. J.B. Greenough & Helen Hinckley for the Arboretum. It was a beautiful drive. The Parkway, which we entered through Chestnut St., Brookline, impressed us much. As we passed by Jamaica Pond, the Greenoughs said that they saw nothing superior abroad. Countless vehicles & bicycles filled the road but all was quiet and orderly. The Arboretum is in glorious foliage. Azaleas are out, and the Lilacs are very fine. This collection has been made at great expense. I noticed Acer spicatum in full flower. We drove to the top of the hill where the lookout is so find and enjoyed the extensive view. Blue Hill with its observatory was very plainly visible. We returned a slightly different way, following the Parkway a little farther. Reached home at little before 7 P.M. Rain in the evening.

Cuckoo singing at night. The Black-billed Cuckoo sang again at 10.15 P.M.

82 Cambridge, Mass. 1900 May 31 Clear, very warm day. Mercury 80° {degrees}.

Colinus virginianus in the Cabot yard. The remarkable event of the day occurred this morning at 7.45 o'clock as we were at breakfast. The north dining room windwo overlooks the back of Mr. Godfrey L. Cabot's house. The lawn behind his house is well kept, the grass cut and watered. An ordinary slat fence separates our two places. As I was looking over his lawn from my seat at the table, suddenly I saw a Quail (Colinus virginianus) run along the smooth lawn a short distance from the fence. He was going from west to east. He paused a few seconds when in full view, his head erect, the white spot on the throat showing and soon he ran along again in the same direction, nimbly and quickly and disappeared. I ran out and looked over the fence but I could not see him again. I trust he has reached a space of safety.

Blk-billed Cuckoo singing at night The Black-billed Cuckoo has sung 5 times this evening between 9 and 10.15. Also 6 times between 10.15 and 11.

I saw the following birds in the garden to-day: Coccyzus erythrophthalmus 1 x {in full song} day & night Chaetura pelagica, 6 ✓ {in flight} Corvus americanus x {in full song} Icterus galbula 2 or 3 ♂♂ {males} x {in full song} 1 ♀ {female}. Astragalinus tristis ♂ {male} ♀ {female} Spizella socialis 2 Mrs. Kettell Dendroica aestiva 1 x {in full song} Geothlypis trichas 1 x {in full song} (♀ {female} Mrs. K.)

Setophaga ruticilla ♂ {male} x {in full song} (♀ {female} Galeoscoptes carolinensis ♂ {male} x {in full song} (♀ {female} Hylocichla? seen too far. Merula migratoria 6