Walter Deane (1848-1930) Papers; Journal Jan-Dec 1901. Botany Libraries, Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Mass.

14 A Trip to Concord, Mass. 1901 June 1

I took the 11.30 A.M. train for Concord, leaving M. on the train to go to Lancaster. At Concord I took the electric to W. Bedford and was rowed over the swollen river to the cabin where I met Will and where I stayed till the next afternoon. In spite of the recent bad weather and the cloudy day it did not rain. Will was engaged part of the afternoon with some men but later we walked up to the Barrett Farm and inspected the buildings especially the new farm house in construction. I collected some ♂ {male} flowers of a Quercus prinoides which is about ten feet high. The season of migration is nearly over, but we saw a good many birds which I shall list at the end of my notes on this trip. I saw a Humming Bird on her nest in the big elm by the Barrett House. The nest was about 20 ft. above the ground.

Will showed me a nest and young of a [Nest and 5 young Cottontails] Cottentail Rabbit. The location was in the orchard between the Barrett House and the new Farm House and was about 20 rods from the latter where men were constantly at work hammering and the like. The site was but about 10 rods from the road. The nest was a small hole about the size of the crown of a hat and about 3 or 4 inches deep. The opening was about 4 inches across, a slight excavation having been made under the sod or turf. The hole was deftly plugged up with a handful of dried grass, and though the spot was absolutely exposed to view, there being no tall

15 A Trip to Concord, Mass. 1901 June 1 (2)

grass about, yet so closely did the closed hole simulate the surroundings that standing within 2 feet of the spot I looked hard before I could find it. On removing the wad, we discovered five young ones, hair and eyes open. They completely filled the hole, and the then grass wad came in contact with their backs. The hole was lined with fur. On touching the little fellows, they would spring violently up as I have seen young rabbits do in confinement. It was as pretty a sight as I ever saw. We replaced the wad carefully after we had examined the nest long enough. At first the little ones bobbed up so violently as to drive up the wad that covered them, but they soon quieted down and so we left them. Some two weeks ago one of the men while driving a cow out of the orchard discovered the hole which was uncovered. This was the only time the hole was seen uncovered. The young ones at that time were very small with their eyes closed. Once in the day time the old Cottontail was seen to approach the hole and lying beside it to nurse her young. With that exception no old Rabbit has been seen there. She comes of course at night. (Gilbert told me on June 4, three days later, that the day before, June 3, he visited the spot. One of the young ones lay dead by the nest. The other four were gone. It is hoped that the old one took them off safely. What killed the other?)

16 1901 June 1 (3)

We had a pleasant stroll back through the fields An Oven–bird gave us a fine exhibition of his flight song and a Hairy Woodpecker uttered his rattling cry from a neighboring trunk. A Crested Flycather at the Farm called several times and a Marsh Hawk soared over low ground by the river. Veeries were singing abundantly and I saw a number of Black polls that were singing and feeding in the trees.

The long rains have swelled the Concord River to a most astonishing extent. The meadows are at least four feet under water for we measured that depth. The water at this season is ordinarily about three feet below the level of the meadows so we have the water seven feet higher than it generally is at this season. The view is that of a vast inland sea and even in the height of the spring floods rarely does the water exceed the present level. It is within about ten feet of the lower cabin. The Bitterns, Carolina & Virginia Rails, & Marsh Wrens have not been seen this spring. While but a few Redwings and scarcely a Grackle have attempted to build. Will saw a Redwing's nest built near the W. Bedford landing, far from the usual sight, but the rising water covered the nest.

I slept to–night in the upper cabin on the hill side some 30 feet above the water Will took the lower cabin

17 A Trip to Concord, Mass. 1901 June 2

This morning though a few rain drops fell the shower held up. After breakfast Will & I rowed on the river for a while. I saw the stone boat house opposite the cabin and the spot where Arnold cut down the trees on Will's land. Near the boat house we heard a Trailli Flycatcher. I was pleased to listen to his simple song which he sang a good many times. I saw skimming over the river to–day and yesterday all the Swallows including the Martin. Landing up the river we strolled over to the Barrett Farm, discussing the plants on the way and visiting spots where ferns and flowering plants have been set out from time to time. The Pink Azalea is well established in a boggy hollow and Asplenium trichomanes grows well in a rocky wooded spot. These were set [?]. We heard the deep drumming of a Partridge in two or three localities and started one bird. The Crested Flycatcher at the Farm gave us a good performance of all his notes and I had a fine long view of a Golden-winged Warbler and heard his lisping song many times. We saw a Maryland Yellow Throat climbing the trunk of a large elm, like a Black & White Creeper. He kept on till he was at least forty feet up among the branches before he swooped to the low bushes where he was evidently [?] more at home.

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 :–