Walter Deane papers

31 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 5 (2)

Spermophilus parryii ♂ [male], dated Sept. 15, 1841, New York. Spermophilus franklinii dated Nov. 27, 1845 Procyon lotor (young), dated Sept. 10, 1841 Sciurus lanigunosus, Fort Simpson, N.W. coast of America, Nov. 1835. from Capt. W. Brotchie J.J.A., New York, 1841, May 24. Lepus townsendii, Townsends Rocky Mt. Hare

There were sketches of birds by J.W. Audubon in 1834 when he was a young man in England and there were drawings whose authorship was doubtful. I compared all the originals of J.J. Audubon's animals with the plates in the Quadrupeds, and I can see how much is lost in the reproduction of the delicate tone and color of the originals. At the [?] of John J. Audubon & his wife the hosts of original drawings were scattered among different branches of the family and many of them got destroyed. It is very fortunate that so many are preserved here.

In our room described before are the following water colors oils by John W. Audubon, reproduced in the Quadrupeds.–

The White Wolf. The Dusky Squirrel, and The Black-tailed Deer. There is a large oil by John W. representing a landscape with two cows in the foreground. The foreshortening of one of the cows secured for John W. his election into the National Academy of Science in New York.

There are also two oils by Victor, representing Cuban tropical scenes, palms and in one two Herons.

30 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 5

It rained last evening from about 9 to 11. The rain entering the ground for but a very short distance. To-day has been cloudy and threatening with mercury around 80°, air sultry.

Miss Florence and I walked to the village this A.M. It was too nearly raining to drive to–day but we have had a very nice morning in the garden and looking over one of the large portfolios of original watercolors by J.J. & J.W. Audubon. It was a rare treat of great delight and we sat about the large dining room table listening to what the ladies said as we examined picture after picture. I noted the following original watercolors by J.J. Audubon, and reproduced in Audubon & Bachman's Quadrupeds of North America :–

Lepus americanus (winter dress), one water color of the scenery and mere outline of the hare, sent to the engravers who wanted to work on the picture, and a later water color of the hare without the scenery. Lepus americanus (summer dress). Two water colors same as above Canis (Vulpus) cinereo-argentatus. Swift Fox. Histrix dorsata. Porcupine. Tamias quadrivittatus. Four white-lined ground squirrel. 2 ads [adults], 2 young on separate sheets but brought on as one sheet in the Quadrupeds The sheet with young is dated, May 20, 1841, N.Y. The sheet with ads [adults] is dated Nov. 16, 1841, N.Y. Tamias townseadi, dated May 16, 1841.

29 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 4 (2)

Our room is in the second story at the back of the main house and faces due south, overlooking the beautiful lawn studded with large elms and rock maples. A pair of red squirrels live in a hole in one of the maples and are constantly seen. Beyond the lawn comes the garden filled with old fashioned flowers Centaurea cyanus (Bachelor's Button), C. moschata (Sweet Sultan) white, Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy), Papaver of different {species}, Lilium of various sps. white, Paeonia of various kinds, Roses, Honeysuckles, Fraxinella, Larkspurs, Hollyhocks, Day lilies [?]. The vegetable garden lies beyond. Around and beyond the garden is a grass field sprinkled with trees, a linden, chestnut, two or three pines introduced sps. cut leaved maples, and beyond the land slopes to Ondawa on White Creek bordered by trees & shrubs and the most attractive being an elm with five or six large trunks diverging below the surface of the ground. Seats are built between them.

The lot contains two acres and is about 2 1/2 times as deep as broad. The house sits about 30 feet back from the street. A row of rock maples is just inside the wooden fence. A little church adjoins the lot on the east, and on the west there is an open lot of some extent with a house on the further side.

We had a steady rain this evening beginning after dark. It is still raining. Terrible [?] in the village [?] to the 4th.

28 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 4

The mercury dropped last night and early this morning it was 62°, risen to 84° in the afternoon Clear in the morning, cloudy in the afternoon. As on yesterday we spent most of the day in the house for the sun was very hot after breakfast. I am glad to be so much in the house. I forgot to mention in my sketch of yesterday that in the dining room in another sketch of John Audubon by Cruikshank who inscribed on the back "to the merriest companion I even knew." Miss Audubon says her father was always full of humor. In the hall is a very large oil painting made by an artist at the order of King Geroge III of England. The painting was made in India of an Indian Rajah of high rank and as King George did not pay for it, it was finally offered for sale and bought by J.J. Audubon who admired it. On each side of the picture hangs a pistol inlaid with Indian work given him in Texas. I have compared the originals of Audubon on the lower floor with the illustrations in Audubon & Bachman's Quadrupeds of {North} America. The Black Rat, Wolverine , Canada lynx & Wild bat works of the grandfather John J. Audubon.

I walked with Miss Florence to the Post Office this morning and saw the Hand Steam Fire Engine.

27 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 3 (2)

In the hall is another original water color by V.J. Audubon of a WildCat, and on the stairway hangs framed a large copper plate of Ardea occidentalis, Great White Heron, one of the few plates rescued from a fire years ago and presented to Miss Audubon by Mr. Cowles [Coles] of Ansonia, Conn., who secured about eighteen of them and inlaid them in one of his rooms. From this plate all the impressions of this bird were taken for the great elephant folio Birds of North America. These plates were stored with the set in a storehouse in New York City.

In the dining room which connects with the parlor is an original water color of the Canada Lynx by John J. Audubon and beneath hangs a frame containing the original water color by J.J. Audobon of birds, each size of life, Evening Grosbeak, Townsends' Bunting, Ground Dove & Amer. [American] Dunlin. Here also is an oil by John W. Audubon of his father. This picture is reproduced as a frontispiece by Miss Audubon in her Journals of her grandfather. An oil of two deer by John W. Audubon hangs over the side board. We have not examined yet the 2d story except our room which I shall describe later. The birds I shall describe later also.

After tea this evening we took a walk along Oudawa Creek and back along Broadway. By the brook grow Echinus, Veratrum, Lilium canadense, yellow & red forms, Lysimachia ciliata , Angelica atropurpurea , etc. Then Miss Florence, M. & I walked through the village shopping.

26 Salem, N.Y. 1901 July 3

Very hot day, mercury ranging one or two degrees on either side of 90° during the day. No clouds no signs of rain — Drop to 74° in the evening —

We have spent the day almost entirely in the house. It has been very delightful, looking at the pictures and hearing the stories about them by the sisters. At one time we sat in the front hall getting a little air that came in through the open door from the north and enjoying delightful talk. In the large library over the fireplace is the original oilpainting of James J. Audubon sitting, with gun and dog (See ). This picture was sent to New York at the time of the unveiling of the Statue of Audubon. In the same room hangs an oil painting of Scott copied from an original, by John W. Audubon who painted the picture of his father, above mentioned. John was father of Miss Maria & Miss Florence. Near the fireplace is an original water color of the American or Black Rat, by John J. Audubon. In the parlor leading off from the hall and connecting with the library by a small room call the "Alcove", are more valuable works. [1] The Wolverine an original water color by J.J. Audubon etc. a large oil [2] by John & Victor. The former painted the cows and the later the landscape, and there is also a colored [3] portrait about a foot square of John. J. Audubon by the great Cruikshank who inscribed on the back. There is also an original water color of a Fox (head pointed up) by J.J. Audubon.

21 Concord, Mass. 1901 June 1–2 (3)

Dendroica blackberniae Heard & saw one. Peculiar song. Dendroica virens Frequent. Dendroica castanea one ♀ [female] back of Ball's Hill. Dendroica vigorsii Heard back of Ball's Hill. Mniotilta varia Heard. Seiurus aurocapillus Heard constantly. I flushed one from her next of 5 eggs in Blakemore Woods. Geothlypis trichas. Abundant. Setophaga ruticilla Abundant. Galeoscoptes carolinensis Frequent. Harporhynchus rufus Heard one. Parus atricapillus Heard. Hylocichla mustelina Heard one at Barrett Farm. Hylocichla fuscescens Heard and seen. Merula migratoria Common. Sialia sialis Several. 59 species.

Besides these, W. Brewster heard {Ardea virescens Coccyzus erythropthalmus Wilsonia canadensis } June 2.

20 Concord, Mass. 1901 June 1–2 (2)

Empidonax minimus Heard at the Farm. Cyanocitta cristata Abundant. Seen & heard. Corvus americanus Abundant. Dolichonyx oryzivorus Abundant in grassy tracts. Molothrus ater One at the Farm. Agelaius phoeniceus A few by the river. The remarkable rise in the river has driven them away. Icterus galbula Abundant. Quiscalus q. aeneus [Quiscalus quiscula aeneus] Three or four only. Carpodacus purpureus One singing at the Farm. Spizella socialis Several Spizella pusilla Heard at the Farm, and near Benson's, where we stood close to one as he sang. Melospiza fasciata Several heard. Pipilo erythrophthalamus Heard at the Farm. Zamelodia ludoviciana Heard by the cabin Piranga erythromelas Saw a pair and heard several. Progne subis One over the river. Petrochelidon lunifrons Abundant over the river. Hirundo erythrogastra Numerus. Tachycineta bicolor Several Clivicola riparia Several Ampelis cedrorum A few. Vireo olivaceus Numerous. Vireo flavifrons Numerous. Helminthophobia chrysoptera Heard and saw one in the meadow opp. the Barrett House. W.B. saw & heard him giving his flight song. Helminthophila rubricapilla Heard a few. Dendroica pensylvanica Abundant. Dendroica striata Numerous [in full song]

19 Concord, Mass. 1901 June 1–2

Birds observed by me in company with William Brewster on his land between 1 P.M. June 1 and 4 P.M. June 2:–

Actitis macularius 3 or 4 flying over bays in Concord River Colinus virginianus Heard calling in the woods or fields. Bonasa umbellus Flushed one in woods and heard two or three drumming at least a dozen times. Circus hudsonius One soaring over the river marshes Buteo lineatus Saw four soaring above us at the Barrett Farm, diving at intervals and continually screaming They were in company. Coccyzus sp. [species] Barrett Farm. W. Brewster heard at daybreak of June 2 C. erythropthalmus [Coccyzus erythropthalmus] Dryobates villosus Heard the rattling call back of Ball's Hill Dryobates p. medianus [Dryobates pubescens medianus] Saw one. Colaptes a. luteus [Colaptes auratus luteus] Heard [shouting?] several times Chordeiles virginianus One flying near Ball's Hill about 3.30 P.M. on June 2 (Sunday). Chaetura pelagica Abundant. Trochilus colubris One on nest in the big elm at the Barrett Farm, about 25 feet up. Seen June 1 & 2. Tyrannus tyrannus Abundant. Myiarchus crinitus One at the Farm, very noisy giving us all his various notes. Sayornis phoebe One near W. Bedford Station, and one at the Farm. Contopus virens Frequent. Empidonax t. aliiorum [Empidonax traillii aliiorum] Heard one in woods across the river opp. the cabin. We rowed over and were quite near him but did not see him. His song was a modified Phoebe's.

18 1901 June 2 (2)

Four Red-Shouldered Hawks circled screaming over our heads, at times diving down, and again soaring up on high. A Wood Thrush sang finely in the near wood. I have not heard this bird as much as the Veery, Hermit & Olive back. On the way back to the boat we saw a very fine Blackburnian Warbler and heard him sing many times his song. Will said that the song was unlike any that he had ever heard a Blackburnian sing before, the notes being clearer. Rowing back to the cabin we passed two logs floating by the shore with 27 square-backed Turtles crowded on them.

After dinner we took a walk through the Blakemore woods and back of Balls Hill pass Glacier Hollow. We say a good many LadySlippers (C. acaule [Cypripedium acaule]) and in one spot a five display of Trientalis americanan. A number of Hemlocks set out some years ago, form now a most beautiful grove. A Pine Warbler was singing among the evergreen oines, and while hunting to see the bird, we got a fine sight of a ♀ [female] Bay-breasted Warbler, a late date, and my [♀ [female] D. castanea [Dendroica castanea] on June 2.] first sight of a ♀ [female] of this species.

I left the cabin at 4.10 P.M., was rowed across the river and took the electrics at W. Bedford and returned home in that way reaching the house at about 7.15 P.M. M. appeared from Lancaster about 15 min. later. I had a cold and dusty ride down. I append a list of the birds seen :–