1872-01-10 Trustee Committee on Birds Report, 1831.035.002

The Committee on the subject of Birds in the Cemetery of Mt Auburn report, at the close of the present year a small improvement though not such as was anticipated at the commencement . The endeavor to introduce singing birds from Europe into our grounds has thus far been unsuccessful in consequence of the failure of the party contracted with to supply the birds to fulfil his agreement. Acting upon the advice of experienced bird fanciers your committee decided to experiment with one of the best known of the song birds of Europe - the Black cap Warbler - Next to the Nightingale this bird is esteemed the best singer of Europe. It is a more hardy bird is much more abundant, is easily trapped and less expensive to procure. It is also easily reconciled to confinement and can be easily and cheaply fed during the winter months.

Your committee contracted with one of the large German houses in New York, engaged in the importation of birds, to deliver twenty four of this species at Mt Auburn about the close of October. A room was fitted for their reception in one of the new green-houses and every possible provision made for their warmth and care. It was proposed to keep them in these warm and comfortable quarters until the spring season was so far advanced that they would with safety be released, in the expectation that they would mate in the grounds of Mt Auburn, and, following the laws of the [?] of Birds, would return in the following season to the spot of their origin. The importer excuses his non fulfilment of his agreement on the ground that the season in Europe was cold and fatal to the young birds and that they could not be procured.

In the water fowl we have been a little more successful. We have added to the group of ducks a pair of pure hite Muscovies.

and within a few weeks we have been so fortunate as to secure three young birds of the Trumpeter Swan. This is an American Swan the largest know swan in the world, and its domestication is comparatively[?] a new affair. They were taken from the west the past summer in Northwestern Iowa where just from the shell, are perfectly tame and promise to be a great acc[ession?] to our grounds. Their brilliant white plumage, contrasted with their jet-black feet & their large size will render them a conspicuous ornament to our grounds.

T. M. Brewer J. L. Little

Report of Com. on Birds, Accepted & ord^d to be placed on file January 10, 1872 (v=114)