Walter Deane papers

92

A Trip to Pigeon Cove, Rockport, &c, Mass. 1901 Aug. 21

The morning opened cloudy, but it soon cleared and the day was as bright, clear and comfortable as could be.

Rev. Mr. & Mrs. James A. Kelso left this morning for Alleghany, {Allegheny} Pa. their home. We have enjoyed them very much and shall miss them.

We took the 11.44 train for Rockport, bent on a pleasure trip to visit seaside places about Gloucester. The ride between Gloucester & Rockport was through a country literally hidden under granite boulders and ledges. We passed very extensive and deep quarries of granite as we neared Rockport. Rockport granite is known far and wide. The Boston Post Office is made entirely of it. At Rockport we took the electrics and rode through Pigeon Cove. We met Mrs. Lamb of Cambridge on the car. She is staying in Pigeon Cove. She pointed out to us the old Babson House. We had beautiful views of Sandy Bay and the wide ocean. We left the car at the end of the line some little way beyond Pigeon Cove and walked out to Halibut Point. Near here we visited a large granite quarry and I talked with one of the workmen. The work was started five years ago and yet a vast hole had been made. The view sea ward from here was grand. The distant western shore toward Newburyport and north ward was plainly visible. From here we walked east through a foot path in a field, passing a very old farm house with

93

A Trip to Pigeon Cove, Rockport, &c, Mass. 1901 Aug. 21 (2)

gambrel roof and unpainted. It is of great age. Then we moved on through the field and along a wood path through a wood and emerged on to a beautiful road in Ocean View. We continued straight to the water and found the Linwood Hotel, a tiny house on the edge of the cliffs commanding a supberb view. From the northwest & southwest is an unbroken line of ocean. The comes Straitsmouth Isl {Island} with its white Light House and beyond the tall dark-colored Thatcher Island Lights. Rockport and the adjoining shore is south. After eating a good dinner here we walked along the shore back to Pigeon Cove where we conversed with a man who had a little store right on the Cove. He gave us some interesting information. The point of land that made the Cove was so overrun by the winter storms that vessels could not winter there safely. To remedy this they have built on this tongue an enormous granite wall of great height. I should say at least 30 or 40 feet above the water. Even now I was told that the waves have dashed over this dislodging some of the granite blocks that are piled up on the top. We were also shown where the Government are building an enormous breakwater from Pigeon Cove eastward a long distance as a protection to Sandy Bay the harbor of Rockport. The work has progressed but partially but I could see where in spots the granite appeared above the water.

94

A Trip to Pigeon Cove, Rockport, &c, Mass. 1901 Aug. 21 (3)

Boarding the electric car again we rode through Rockport and straight down to Gloucester (3.30 P.M.). We had a good view of Bass Rocks with the hotels crowning the hill.

In Gloucester center we changed cars and took one for Lanesville. A lady whom I sat next to, a Mrs. Dakins of Linnean St., Cambridge, gave me information along part of the way. We passed through Riverdale with interesting views of the water to the west and some sand dunes beyond. Across the bay lay Annisquam through which we passed on the east side of Lobster Cove. The point where the summer residences are lies across the Cove. Mrs. Dakins who left us at the bridge pointed out Prof. Hyatt's house on the west bank of the Cove. Continuing we passed through Bay View another settlement, a granite center. On the hill to the west and overlooking the sea stands the house of B.F. Butler. We had a good view of it. Granite walls are in front of many of the small houses instead of a wooden fence. This shows that granite is cheap here, as slate is in Salem, N.Y. There every house and shed is slated. Next we passed through Lanesville and reached the end of the line, but a mile from the terminus at Pigeon Cove. Without leaving the car we returned to Gloucester reaching the station at 5 P.M. The 5.06 train took us back to Magnolia, and we reach home by quarter of six. The brilliancey of sea & sky could not be surpassed to-day.

95 A Trip to Bass Rocks & East Gloucester, Mass. 1901 Aug. 22

Fog in early morning, clearing by 8 A.M. Day clear and pleasant, rather warm in the sun.

We took the 9.16 A.M. train Gloucester to visit friends and see the country. The electrics first took us to Long Beach between Gloucester & Rockport. We staid but a few minutes here. It is a very fine stretch of fine hard sandy beach and is a resort much like Revere Beach at home. The car next left us returning from this point, at the port of Bass Rocks. We walked up the slope and among the group of houses forming this place. The two hotels are the Thorwald and the Moorland, at the latter of which we saw Miss Susie & Mollie Wyman. It is a very attractive place here, with a fine outlook sea ward. The shore runs along to the north east, and Thatcher Island with its two fine lights are directly before you. As I sat on the piazza a United States torpedo boat, long, black, low on the water, with four short black smoke stacks ran past round Eastern Point at full speed. I was told she was on a trial trip.

At 12 o'clock Miss Mollie walked with us across the field and over the Golf Links about 3/4 mile where we took the car to East Gloucester. There we dined at the Delphine (100 at table) and called on Mrs. & Miss Dora Willard who are staying there, on Will & Mrs. Dan's and Mrs. Morgan, at the Hawthorne Inn, Prof. & Mrs. Clement-Smith in their neighboring cottage, and Miss Peabody of Appleton St. in her cottage near by. Mr. Arthur Gilman showed me about Hawthorne Inn, a large group of bulidings close to the water, opp. 10 lb. {Pound} Isl. {Island}, and crowded with people. The 5.06 P.M. train took us back to Magnolia.

97

Magnolia, Mass. 1901 Aug. 24

Clear in A.M., cloudy in P.M., light rain at 7.30 P.M. thunder later in the evening. Breeze off the sea, quite warm in the sun in the midday.

This morning we & Mrs. White walked over to Norman's Woe. M. & Mrs. W. sat on the rocks. I wandered about over the rocks and barren soil in the neighborhood. Of Butterflies I saw Cybele, rapae, (took two), pseudocolus subsp. {subspecies} (took two), (took one). Helianthus divaricatus is the most abundant plant there and it gives a bright yellow color to the point. This sunflower seems to be very local even in the region where it is abundant. I have seen it nowhere else in my walks about here. It is still in full flower. Sericocarpus conyzoides very abundant too is going by now. I took a few plants for my herbarium: — Prenanthes serpentaria, Pursh. abundant Sanicula marilandica, L. saw two patches. Lespedeza stuevei {var.} intermedia, Watson, one patch of a dozen plants Lechea saw one plant only, Sericocarpus conyzoides, Nees. abundant.

This afternoon we walked over to Miss Alice Allyn's and spent a pleasant hour or so on the piazza. A number of her lady friends were there and tea & cakes were served. The house is very high on the hill, surrounded by trees and a vista opening towards the beach has been made by cutting down a great many trees. More still must go to keep the view open. We called afterwards on Mr. John Allyn's whose house is just below the former.

108

Magnolia, Mass. 1901 Aug. 1–30 (4)

Galeoscoptes carolinensis. Catbird. [August] 7, 1; [August] 8, 1; [August] 13, 1; [August] 20, 1 [in full song], 1 whining ; [August] 21, 1; [August] 23, 2; [August] 25, 1; [August] 26, 2 whining Sitta carolinensis. White-breasted Nuthatch. [August] 18 hd [heard] in the oak grove by my window, [yauking?] loudly. Parus atricapillus Chickadee. x = song -x- = [phoebe] note [August] 2, 1 [phoebe note]; [August] 14, 2 [song]; [August] 15, 2 [song]; [August] 23, 12 [phoebe note]; [August] 26, 1; [August] 27, 1 Merula migratoria American Robin [August] 1, 1; [August] 2, 15; [August] 3, 20; [August] 4, 6; [August] 6, 13 [in a flock] 4 ; [August] 7, 1; [August] 8, 6; [August] 13, 3; [August] 14, 2; [August] 15, 10; [August] 16, 6; [August] 17, 5; [August] 18, 2; [August] 19, 3; [August] 20, 6; [August] 21, 1; [August] 23, 5; [August] 24, 4; [August] 25, 4; [August] 27, 2; [August] 28, 6 [in a flock]; [August] 29, 6; [August] 30, 1

107

Magnolia, Mass. 1901 Aug. 1–30 (3)

Cyanospiza cyanea. Indigo Bird. [August] 3, 1 hd [heard] [in full song] Petrochelidon lunifrons. Eave Swallow [August] 5, 4 [in flight]; [August] 8, 50 [in flight]; [August] 9, 6 [in flight]; [August] 14, 6 [in flight]; [August] 17, 6 [in flight]; [August] 28, 50 [in flight] over the water and alighting on the sheets of a sail boat in the harbor. East Gloucester; [August] 29, 6 Hirundo erythrogastra. Barn Swallow. [August] 1, 4 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 3, 2 [in flight]; [August] 7, 1 [in flight]; [August] 8, 1 [in flight]; [August] 13, 1 [in flight]; [August] 14, 12 [in flight]; [August] 15, 6 [in flight]; [August] 16, 6 [in flight]; [August] 21, 1 [in flight]; [August] 24, 1 [in flight] Tachycineta bicolor. Tree Swallow [August] 28, 1 [in flight] beach. East Gloucester Ampelis cedrorum. Cedar Waxwing. [August] 3, 4; [August] 5, 3; [August] 14, 12; [August] 15, 2; [August] 16, 1; [August] 26, 1 Vireo olivaceus. Red-eyed Vireo. [August] 2, 1 [in full song]; [August] 3, 2 [in full song]; [August] 5, 1 [in full song]; [August] 6, 1 [in full song]; [August] 7, 1 [in full song]; [August] 8, 1 [in full song]; [August] 9, 1 [in full song]; [August] 13, 3 [in full song]; [August] 14, 2 [in full song]; [August] 15, 1 [in full song]; [August] 17, 2 [in full song]; [August] 18, 2 [in full song]; [August] 20, 2 [in full song]; [August] 22, 2 [in full song]; [August] 23, 3 [in full song]; [August] 24, 2 [in full song]; [August] 25, 1 [in full song]; [August] 26, 1 [in full song]; [August] 27, 1 [in full song]; [August] 29, 1 [in full song]; [August] 30, 1 [in full song] Vireo flavifrons. Yellow-throated Vireo. [August] 13, 3 Mniotilta varia. Black and White Creeper. [August] 4, 2; [August] 23, 2 [in flock]; [August] 27, 1 Dendroica aestiva. Yellow Warbler [August] 4, 1; [August] 6, 1 [in full song]; [August] 13, 1; [August] 15, 2 [in full song]; [August] 16, 1 Dendroica virens. Black-throated Green Warbler [August] 23, 1 ad [adult] ♀ [female], im [immature] Dendroica vigorsii. Pine Warbler [August] 3, 1 im [immature] in Pitch Pines; [August] 6, 1 im [immature] in Pitch Pines Seiurus aurocapillus. Ovenbird. [August] 6, 1; [August] 13, 1 Geothlypis trichas. Maryland Yellowthroat [August] 13, 1 chirping. 1 [in full song] Wilsonia canadensis. Canadian Warbler [August] 27, 1 im. [immature] ♂ male [in weak song] Setophaga ruticilla. Redstart. [August] 2, 1; [August] 7, 1; [August] 16, 1 [in full song]; [August] 23, ♂ [male]; [August] 26, 1

106

Magnolia, Mass. 1901 Aug. 1-30 (2)

Chaetura pelagica. Swift [August] 1, 5 [in flight]; [August] 2, 6 [in flight]; [August] 4, 2 [in flight]; [August] 7, 6 [in flight]; [August] 13, 6 [in flight]; [August] 14, 6 [in flight]; [August] 15, 6 [in flight]; [August] 16, 4 [in flight]; [August] 17, 4 [in flight]; [August] 19, 6 [in flight]; [August] 25, 4 [in flight]

Trochilus colubris. Humming Bird. [August] 7, 1; [August] 8, 1; [August] 9, 1; [August] 13, 2; [August] 16, 1; [August] 17, 1

Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. [August] 2, 2; [August] 3, 2 [in full song]; [August] 8, 2 [in full song]; [August] 14, 2 [in full song]; [August] 15, 1 [in full song]; [August] 18, 2 [in full song]; [August] 19, 1 [in full song]; [August] 20, 1 [in full song]; [August] 21, 1 [in full song]; [August] 23, 4 [in full song]; [August] 24, 4 [in full song]; [August] 30, 4

Contopus virens. Wood Pewee. [August] 2, 1 [in full song]; [August] 3, 1 [in full song] ;[August] 4, 1 [in full song]; [August] 7, 1 [in full song]; [August] 8, 2 [in full song]; [August] 13, 2 [in full song]; [August] 14, 2 [in full song]; [August] 15, 2 [in full song]; [August] 16, 1 [in full song]; [August] 17, 1; [August] 18, 3 [in full song]; [August] 19, 1 [in full song]; [August] 20, 2 [in full song]; [August] 21, 1 [in full song]; [August] 22, 1 [in full song]; [August] 23, 3 [in full song] ;[August] 24, 1 [in full song] [August] 25, 2 [in full song]; [August] 26, 1 [in full song]; [August] 27, 4 [in full song]; [August] 28, 1 [in full song]; [August] 29, 1 [in full song] one sang in the oak grove by the house almost every day.

Empidonax minimus. Least Flycatcher. [August] 23, 1 seen in grove near Norman's Woe.

Corvus americanus. Crow. [August] 2, hd [heard]; [August] 3, 15; [August] 5, hd [heard]; [August] 6, hd [heard]; [August] 8, hd [heard]; [August] 9, hd [heard]; [August] 13, 10 [in a flock]; [August] 14, 11 [in a flock] 6; [August] 15, hd [heard]; [August] 16, hd [heard]; [August] 17, hd [heard]; [August] 18, hd [heard]; [August] 19, hd [heard]; [August] 24, 12; [August] 25, 6; [August] 27, 4; [August] 28, 8 [in a flock]

Icterus galbula. Baltimore Oriole. [August] 3, 4 [immature]; [August] 16, 1 [in full song] near the house; [August] 23, 1; [August] 27, 1

Quiscalus q. aeneus [Quiscalus quiscula aeneus]. Bronzed Grackle. [August] 28, 1 East Gloucester

Astragalinus tristis. American Goldfinch. [August] 1, 1 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 2, 6 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 3, 12 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 4, 3 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 6, 3 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 7, 2 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 8, 3 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 9, 3 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 13, 12 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 14, 6 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 15, 1. [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 16, 6 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 17, 6 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 18, 6 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 19, 1 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 20, 5 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 21, 1 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 22, 2 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 23, 6 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 24, 5 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 27, 2 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 29, 2 [in flight] [in full song]; [August] 30, 1 [in flight] [in full song]

Passer domesticus. English Sparrow. Abundant and seen every time I went abroad.

Spizella socialis. Chipping Sparrow. [August] 2, 1 [in full song]; [August] 4, 1 [adult] feeding 2 young; [August] 6, 1; [August] 8, 3; [August] 13, 6; [August] 14, 1; [August] 15, 5; [August] 16, 5; [August] 17, 5; [August] 18, 3; [August] 20, 10 [in a flock] on lawn; [August] 23, 6 [in a flock]; [August] 25, 4 [in a flock]; [August] 27, 20 [in a flock] on lawn; [August] 28, 1; [August] 29, 1

Melospiza fasciata. Song Sparrow. [August] 1, 3 [in full song]; [August] 2, 15 [in full song]; [August] 3, 20; [August] 4, 6; [August] 5, 2; [August] 6, 13 [in a flock] 4; [August] 7, 1; [August] 8, 6; [August] 13, 3; [August] 14, 2 [August] 1, 3 [in full song]; [August] 2, 2 [in full song], 6; [August] 3, 20 [in full song]; [August] 4, 6 [in full song]; [August] 5, 4 [in full song]; [August] 6, 3 [in full song], 3; [August] 7, 5 [in full song]; [August] 8, 6 [in full song]; [August] 9, 3 [in full song]; [August] 13, 10 [in full song]; [August] 14, 6 [in full song]; [August] 15, 4 [in full song]; [August] 16, 6 [in full song]; [August] 17, 3 [in full song]; [August] 18, 2 [in full song]; [August] 20, 1 [in full song]; [August] 21, 1 [in full song]; [August] 22, 5; [August] 23, 3; [August] 24, 3 [in full song]; [August] 25, 1; [August] 29, 3

Pipilo erythrophthalamus. Towhee. Chewink. [August] 2, 1 [in full song]; [August] 4, 1 [in full song]; [August] 5, 1; [August] 13, 4 [in full song]; [August] 14, 1 calling; [August] 18, 1 calling; [August] 23, 10 calling; [August] 29, 1 calling. These observations, except the 4th & 45th, were made by Norman's Woe where the birds were abundant in the scrub. I visited the spot the 24th and after but seen or heard none except on the 29th. The birds of the 4st and 5th were close by the house.

105

Magnolia, Mass. 1901 Aug. 1–30

List of birds observed by me at Magnolia between Aug. 1 and 30. They were, with a few exceptions noted, seen within about a mile of the Oak Grove House. I did not penetrate far into the woods. I was in Cambridge Aug. 9–12. Larus a. smithsonianus [Larus argeutatus smithsonianus]. Herring Gull. [August] 3, 1 [in flight]; [August] 8, 6 [in flight]; [August] 13, 5 [in flight]; [August] 16, 3 [in flight]; [August] 24, 2 [in flight] im. [immature]; [August] 27, 2 [in flight] Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. [August] 7, 1 [in flight] over the marsh back of the Crescent Beach (called Kettle Beach) at about 7:30 A.M. Nycticorax n. naevius [Nycticorax nycticorax naevius]. Black-Crowned Night Heron. [August] 4, hd [heard] [in flight] 6 P.M. Calidris arenaria. Sanderling. [August] 28, 10 [in a flock] feeding on the beach on the eastern side of Eastern Point, East Gloucester. They were very tame. Totanus solitarius. Solitary Sandpiper. [August] 2, 1 on the rocky shore; [August] 3, 1 Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. [August] 16, 1 [in flight] brown ♀ [female] flying over the harbor from E. Gloucester to Magnolia. Ceryle alcyon. Kingfisher. [August] 7, hd [heard]; [August] 21, 1 [in flight] along the shore E. Gloucester; [August] 22, 1 [in flight] over the water at Norman's Woe; [August] 27, 1 [in flight] over the water at Norman's Woe, 1 [in flight] along shore at the point. Dryobates villosus. Hairy Woodpecker [August] 23, 1 seen in dead pine, feeding, near Norman's Woe. Dryobates p. medianus [Dryobates pubescens medianus]. Downy Woodpecker [August] 2, 1; [August] 23, 1 Colaptes auratus luteus. Flicker [August] 3, 1; [August] 23, 1; [August] 26, 1 Chordeiles virginianus. Night Hawk.

104

1901 Aug. 30 (2)

observations made by lying down and holding my lens close over the ants failed to reveal anything whatever in their mandibles. A number of ants passed review under my glass. Rev. James A. Kelso of Allegheny, Pa., a guest at the Oak Grove Home for some time this summer saw this stream first on July 4 and several times since during the month. So it has been continuous from July 4 to Aug. 29 at least. I brought home a few specimens which I gave to Mr. Henshaw this evening. He told me it was not the common black ant. He had never heard of such long continued proceedings, run of ants passing and either way. I shall await with interest what he may find out in regard to this. Every time that Mr. Kelso or I passed the spot during July & August the stream of ants was there, and we passed over the locality both morning and afternoon.