Field notes: Eastern United States trip, book 1, v4545

Grinnell, Joseph, 1877-1939

1916

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley

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☆2981 204 J. Grinell, Museum Vert. Zoology, University of Calif., Berkeley, California.

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April 23-1916, California versus, Soledad Pass to Newhall, L.A. Co., Cal., Apr. 23, 6:30 to 7:45: Col. Jay 1; Brown Thrasher 1; Sparrowhawk 1; Mourning Dove 2; Air Kingbird 3; English Sparrows (at Saugus) 2; Sinnnet 2; Yellow Warbler 1 (in cottonwoods at Saugus). Water in Santa Clara Canyon; vegetation purpure; fine year! Newhall to San Fernando, 7:45-8:10: Meadowlark 2; Col. Jay 2; Black-headed Grosbeak 1; Turkey Vulture 3; Cliff Swallow 1. Along Short-line, L.A. to Pasadena, the most conspicuous bird is Brewer Blackbird, about 7am; also Sinnnet 2; Mockingbird 2. Around Pasadena, chiefly on grounds at 690 E. Orange Grove, noted: Sinnnet (about 6); Mockingbird 6;

2 Apr. 23, California Hooded Oriole 4; Brewer Blackbird 6, Thrush 2; Song Sparrow 2; Yellow Warbler 2; Bram Tanager 4; Sparrows 2; Meadowlark 4. Tonight 7:30, saw a gofer running at large, straight away, and fast-- as fast as a rat might have run, crossing the width of the street in a very short time, with rapid foot treads. Short heavy body noticeable. But he couldn't get up on the curb and it overhauled him when he about-faced with menacing attitude in moral gofer fashion. Finally he went up a driveway approach to a barn. Now this gofer was certainly travelling abroad at a great rate. It was not a large one, possibly a young of the year. Saw bats around electric lights.

Apr. 24, California 8:30 a.m.—Shorb: Scores of Swains in hearing, singing on telegraph wires, 16 by actual count in sight at once; also noted Mockingbird; Brown Thrasher; St. Brewer Blackbird. Meadowlark; the morning is very warm. Climate here notably more warm (7 to 10°) than at Berkeley. 9:00 near Bassett: Crow 2; Shrike 2; Mocking 1; Red-wing 10; Swain 2. 9:30—near Posonora: Mocker 1; Turkey Vulture 2; Crow 1; Swinet 10; Shrike 1; Red-wing 6; Morning Dove 1. 10:10 near Colton: Brewer Blackbird 6; Mocker 1; Shrike 1; Col. Quail 3; Ark. Kingbird 2; Hooded Oriole 2. 10:20 near Redlands Junction: Dlaiopipla 2; Mocker 2; Song Sparrow 1; Morning Dove 4; Black-headed Grosbeak 1; Brown Thrasher 2; Cliff Swallow 15; Turkey Vulture 1; Shrike 4; Swain 4.

H Apr 24, California 11 a.m. - Approaching Beaumont: Turkey Vulture 3; Mourning Dove 8; Sparrow Hawk R 1; Mudhen 20; Sincer 25. Cliff Swallow 20; Meadowlark 6; Brewer Blackbird 6; Arkansas Kingbird 1. 11:10 - Approaching Beaumont: Say Phoebe 1; Dove 2; Meadowlark 2; Valley Quail 1. 11:30 - Approaching Cabezon: Willow Goldfinch, Green-backed Goldfinch 4; Shrike 1; Racer Brown Towhee 1. 12:00 m. - at Indio saw at least 5 English Sparrows around RR track. 1 p.m. - along Salton Sea: Raven 1; Shrike 3. Still a big area of water in Salton Sea; down about 35 feet I should say from highest beach marks. Saw a few large birds in distance. 3:35 pm. To Yuma. Saw on California side: Mourning Dove 6; Turkey Buzzard

Apr. 24, Arizona Red-wing, Sonoran, about 20; Phainopepla 1. 5 p.m. [M.Ture]- Out of your and next long Gila: Morning Dove 5; CarR. Kingbird 2; Sonoran Redwing 4. 5:50- On up Gila at Waltra. a good many Saguaros along base of hills to night; also castillos. Have seen: 2 Say Phoebes around a station house; 5 Turkey Vultures; 1 Shrike; 1 Mourning Dove. 1:10 p.m.- at Sentinel, Ariz.; 3 Dark Sparrows; 1 Raven; 1 Shrike. may not setting. Other birds glimpsed without recognizing them. April 25 6:15 a.m.- Dewing, NM., 4300 ft. alt.; still pretty warm; clear. a broad plain, with grass, some farms, and toll-station yuccas, on which were perched 2 White-robed Ravens; saw also 5 English Sparrows around Station.

6 April 25 - New Mexico Driving to El Paso by 9:00 am.; Very stretches of level country with low mesquite, tall yuccas, phedra, bunch grass, etc. Many Swallow-tails (or more), White-necked Ravens (25+); White-rumped Shrike (2); Scalated Doves (bunch of 8); Mourning Doves (3); Sparrow Hawks 1. El Paso, Texas - 8:30 am. Lots of creosote brush came in a few miles above here. saw at least 12 Swallow-tails, 1 Raven, 2 linnets. Here are several English Spar Out of El Paso: 2 Barn-Swallows; 9 Mourning Doves. 10 a.m. - Just leaving Rio Grande River bottom - alfalfa, cottonwood, mesq arrived at Iplex: Mourning Doves (2) Raven 20; Sparrow Hawk 3; Mockingbird Shrike 2; Shrikes 7; Shorebird 4. 12:15 - Ft. Hancock up over mesa toward Sierra Blanco: Creosote bird

Apr. 25 Texas low mesquite, atriplex, ocotilla, ephedra; letally bunch-grass and some annuals coroming; but still desert. Saw one Red-tailed Hawk; jolly 25 ravens; many Mourning Doves; 5 or 6 Turkey Buzzards. 1:30 p.m.—Lots of bunch grass and low yuccas came in about Sierra Blanco, and ever since, one continuous level plain with hills on either hand. Saw several Prairie dogs and a blacktailed Jack Rabbit; also 3 or 4 Meadowlarks, 8 or 10 Ravens, a Turkey Buzzard, and a few Roadrunners. 3:40 p.m.—at Marfa, nearly 5000 ft. alt., but limitless rolling prairie, with occasional tracts of low yuccas. I have seen: Swainson Hawk 2; yellow-headed Blackbird 1 & close by and flocks around cattle pens I inferred to be same; flock of Dark Buntings (?) around ranch;

Apr. 25 Texas Scores Ravens all along, 15 in one bunch; but 4 meadowlarks, Mourning Doves; 4 English Sparrows at Lobo; several Prairie Dogs stood upright at mouth, 7 wounds. Only cattle country as far as we can se 4:00 - 4:15 p.m. - Passano to Alpine. Can over a slight divide: Lower Sonoran on West Upper Sonoran on East side; then, rain-bearing winds from East, toward Gulf of Mexico. From crest of divide down a ways toward Alpine, hills and gullies studded with oaks (small) junipers, with short dead grass overgrowth Then more prairie, yellow short grass. Many Ravens, Mourning Doves and Blackbirds. 5:13 p.m. - Marathon, alt. 4043 ft.; hill, prairie; grass (dry), scattering cactus & yucca. And again; no stream courses Have seen scores of Prairie Dogs,

Apr. 25 - Texas seen within RR right-of-way; holding out tummies, standing upright, some prone, foraging without paying any attention to train. Saw also Cottontail Rabbit I mouth of Prairie dog hole, and 3 or 4 jack rabbits (black tails). Birds: Quail 6 or 8; Mockingbird 2; Horned Larks, about 10; Raven 20; Turkey Vultures 3; Meadowlark 4; several small birds flitting along not recognized; Mourning Doves, fifty, in pairs mostly - most prominent find I whole route thus far; Not extinct yet! 6 p.m. - Have come down into belt of surface desert vegetation - yuccas, mesquite, creosote, cactus, etc. By far the most prominent bird is Mourning Dove - almost constantly in sight. Also Baird's Woodpecker

10 Apr. 25 - Texas seen to bear a fresh furrow in [illegible] poles. Poles along RR or all perforated with [illegible] holes. Saw also: few Ravens, one Shrike, one Mockingbird, a few Grinnets, and some unrecognized small birds. 7:30 p.m.. At Dryden, just dust warm. Saw 2 bats and 3 Texas Nighthawks; also previous everal branches of scaled quail 2 Shrikes, many Mourning Doves, a several unrecognised small birds. April 26. Haltoma, Tex., 6:50 a.m. We're across the 100th meridian - not the faintest trace of desert. Damp, cloudy; "feel" of the air totally different, clothes not dry. Lots of fruits I guess slender oaks, some hung with spanish moss. Ground green with springing-up

Apr. 26 - Texas grass and vegetation. Gardens and farm crops, corn, etc., young and green, but no signs of irrigation! Pasture green. First birds recognized: 7 Mourning Doves and 3 Mockingbirds; Country nearly level, dark soil, no rocks or gravel in sight; ravines or draws with some standing water, but no streams. 8:30 a.m. - Same sort of country but more open prairie. Cotton an increasing crop. Have seen: a Red-headed Woodpecker flying parallel with the train close by, showing all chief characters; 2 crows in field with corn; several pairs and flocks of Grackles; 10 turkey Vultures around a shed tree; and fully 50 Mourning Doves. Stopped a few minutes at town of Eagle Lake. A Red-headed Woodpecker has

12 Apr. 26 - Texas its hole in a telegraph pole in town; saw him fly to it. Also heard 1 English Sparrows about town; heard notes of only three and a meadowlark. Saw a Turkey Buzzard overland, and a Meadowlark in a field; a mourning dove just out of town. 9:30 a.m. - Just crost Brazos River. Sa a Carolina Woodpecker light on trunk of oak. Have also seen two Catbirds, several M or Ringbirds, a Lark Sparrow, some Grackles, and fully 20 Mourning Doves. 10:am. - Towards Houston: 1 Dickcissel on telegraph wire; several pairs of Boat- tailed Grackles, the M's double the size of F's, and with expanded tail; 1 shrike; a Turkey Vulture; several Mourning Dove Just before Houston, got to belt. white pine on light-colored (sandy?) soil - first pines seen; many pines and even oaks broken.

Apr. 26 - Texas N towards north testify to fierce Daily storms. RR station at Houston full of English Sparrows. 11:20. - Out of Houston: tracts of pines and deciduous trees interspersed with "haz-willow" prairie -- apparently good for nothing agriculturally. Saw an Eastern Kingbird, and a dozen or so Red-winged Blackbirds. These must be the "Dove Basses" I have read of. Some small palms scattered over floor woods. 11:30 am. - near Dayton, Tex. Just saw a Black Vulture in flight, and three around dead cow in field; also cat beat 6 Redwings, a Mourning Dove + a MeadowLark. 12:20: High clouds; humid; has recently rained, standing water everywhere; fully 75 Red-winged Blackbirds seen, scattered along right of way where evidently find nesting places; saw

15 <- N.B. Age: 26 - La. Also 2 Meadowlarks, 2 pss. Boat-Tail Grackles, and about 40 Redwings; 1 Mockingbird; 1 Red-headed Woodpeckers; 3 Eastern Kingbirds; 1 Eastern Nighthawk. 3:45 p.m. Rayne, La. Saw 2 Purple Martins and several English Sparrow around the store-fronts in this town. Open rice-lands, capable of being flooded, from leveed canals, now predominate. Further along: Malinga Redwing 35; Mourning Dove 1; Indigo Bunting Orchard Oriole 3; Bobwhite 1; Kingbird 1; Red-headed Woodpeckers 1; Black Vulture 6. Mrs. S. talked for me on three separate horizons along Lafayette then New Iberia, as follows: 4:00 - 4:05: Redwing 8; Unknown 2; Eastern Phoebe 1; Orchard Oriole 1; Mourning Dove 2; Kingbird 1; Red-headed Woodpeckers 3; Mockingbird 1; Boat-tailed Grackle 4. [to p. 16]

Apr. 26 - Texas NB -> 14 1 eastern meadowlark in flight just run over pasture; also two Meadowlarks, & East Dudley's Bunting 3. Lots of flat open land now, farmed; jungles of pine, cypress and various deciduous trees along rivers & sloughs; many mud turtles in batts. 1:30 p.m. Vinton, Louisiana. Crossed the Texas-La. line somewhere near Echo. Lots more standing water on floor of woods - regular boggy jungles, yellow lilies growing in ponds, little palms profuse in drier floor grounds: 3 Eastern Kingbirds, bobcat-wine 1 piece, 3 Mockingbirds , Red-winged Blackbird 6, Meadowlark 1, Turkey Vulture 1, 1 Least Sandpiper ; 2 Barn Swallows (going north), 1 Raven (possibly crow). 2:30 p.m. Past Lake Charles, La. Just saw 2 Great Blue Herons and 2 Green Herons, flushed from slough;

16 Apr. 26.—Sa. 4:24—4:39: Redwing 18; wRPerson 14; Orchad Oriole 2; Kingbird 4; Red-headed Wdrpr 1; Mockingbird 5; English Sparrow 5; Chining Swift 4; Bobwhite 2 5:00—5:30: Redwing 6; wRPerson 19; Eastern Phoebe 1; Orchad Oriole 1; Kingbird 2; Red-headed Woodpecker 8; Mockingbird 10; Boat-tailed Grackle 10; English Sparrow 5; Black Vulture 2; Shrike 1; Purple Martin 16. Also saw, at other times, one Flicker and 3 Bluejays. Our might get a proportionate constituent census by estimating from above listings for total RR running time across state, or Echo to New Orleans! Country is now pretty much the same—vast sugar-cane plantations, up about a fort; ar wide farm corners, & cedar swamps along sloughs.

Apr. 27- La. Audubon Park, New Orleans, 1:30 p.m. A statue of Audubon, "ornithologist and naturalist" occupies a prominent place in this very extensive and pleasant standing city park. Audubon is posed, looking slightly upwards into a tree, with sketch- book held in left hand at arm, and crencil poised in right. But he has a hunting knife in his belt, and also a powder horn and shot pouch, two new guns! The Park is posted by the Louisiana Conservation Commission against collecting Birds, with extracts from the very drastic laws-which give no opportunity for collecting! The trees are now in richest green, mostly big Oaks (labeled "Quercus virgana"), magnolias, oleanders, palms, and lots of plants I don't know. English Sparrows swarm, many carrying nesting material into

18 Apr. 27 - La. palm heads. There must be 10 spars to one of all other birds combined. Too bad the Commission can't weed out a lot of the sparrows and give the others birds a show! Other species seen as follows: Mockingbird (perhaps 25 all told, in two hours we spent about the Park; some on golf lawns like robins, mostly in shrubby hedges, many in full song, several juveniles "squealing"); Orchard Oriole (about 12, singing beautifully, marvellously like Scott Oriole! One loud singer was a green, black-throated bird, probably a 2nd year &; green f's very shy); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (1 & clearly seen, and probably others heard); Summer Tanager (1 & watched for some time in top of live oak); Boat-tailed Grackle (fully 20 seen; males often expand their tails prodigiously, and in

Apr. 27 - La. 19 flight show up-and-down rudder-like motion of this member; females much smaller, with shorter tails and not so iridescent; one was seen carrying nest material over the house-tops ); Red-winged Blackbird (at least six over the lakes bordering the Park at one end, forging at edge of Mississippi River ); yellow-billed Cuckoo (just got acquainted with two, three following up their notes - so startlingly like those of roadrunner!); Vireo, possibly white-eyed (at least 3 in oak tops, singing almost continuously, very vireo-like, but not like any I've known before ); Cardinal (a ? just came thru the trees close by, showing all chief diagnostic features ); Warblers (several in tree tops, not for sure recognizable; that I saw Redstart and Creekear, but not sure ).

20 Apr. 27 - Sa. The levee separating the park from the M. river is about 12 feet high, with gently sloping sides and is smooth carpeted with Bermuda grass. Just here there are only scattering willows at the water's edge; but the river is high and the water yellow turbid. Just saw 4 Barn Swallows hawking back & forth over the levee; two Clammy Swifts flew by. "An Ornithological Travelogue might be a good title for a C.O.C. tale Distance, San Francisco to New Orleans, 2487 Apr. 28 8:30 - 9:00 - Out of New Orleans towards Lake Pontchartrain. Vast open marshes alternating with cypress swamps. Many Redwings, Boat-tailed Grackles, and a few Turkey Vultures seen. 9:30, across mouth of Lake C., Gulf of Mexico close at hand to right.

Apr. 28 - La.; Miss. 4 Laughing Gulls; 1 Hightawk, clearly flushed from cross-arm of tg pole. 10:05: Saw 5 Fish Crows flying over water of Bay St. Joseph, also one Laughing Gull. The state of Mississippi, as far as observable from this train, seems to be chiefly pine barrens, save for towns which depend on oysters & fish along the adjacent coast. The soil is poor - no crops - here and there a cow, and some daily planters. Census 10:35 - 11:10 a.m. Leafport out: Brown Thrasher 3, Meadowlark 5, unknown 3; English Sparrow 9 (only in towns); Fish Crow 2; Boat-tailed Grackle 3; Shrike 1; Black Vulture 1; Turkey Vulture 1. 11:25 - 11:45, Pascagoula out: unknown 6; English Sparrow 5; Fish Crow 1; Shrike 1; Meadowlark 1; Barn Swallow 1. Later saw two Great Blue Herons over

22 Apr. 28 - Miss.; Ala. a swamps. Elsewhere 2 Mourning Doves, and a flock of fully 50 Crows (probably Common) on a farm there is more forming now, and some citrus orchards. Still, proximity to the sea, furnishes most of human industry apparently, see for bleeding of pines for turpentine which seems to be destroying much of forests. 12:40 - at Mobile, Ala. 2:35 pm. - Bay Minette, Ala. Have seen only Gt. Blue Heron 1, Crow 2, Eastern Kingbird 1; Turkey Vulture 1. The country now is nearly all rolling pine barrens. Occasional swamps have cypress, magnolia, pecan & oaks. Just saw two Meadowlarks; 1 Loggerhead Shrike 2 mockingbirds; 1 Turkey Vulture.

Apr. 28 - Fla. 5 p.m. Arrived at Pensacola from Houston. Country all the way is Pine Barrens. Very little farming; a few fruit ranches. Most of pines being felled. Many large tracts cut off for lumber; but new growth, of pines and oaks, in various stages of development. Recovery evidently very quick. Birds, as far as observable from train, scarce; noted following: Shrike 1; Warbling 3; Mockingbird 5; Nightbank 1. Took 3 1/2-hour walk in suburbs here in Pensacola; plenty of trees and shrubbery, but nothing in the bird-line detected outside of English Sparrows, which swarm! Distance New Orleans to Jacksonville 612 miles. Distance Jacksonville to New York 1024 miles.

24 Apr. 29 - Fla., Ga. 6:45 (at Lake City) to 9:00 (Jacksonville): Continuously nearly level country, mostly with thinned-out pine woods, the floor thickly clothed with palmettos and glass; a little farming, mostly cattle and turpentine. Some depressions with water, and grown up to jungles of cypress, etc. Birds noted: Black Vulture 18; Mourning Dove 3; Shrike 10; Kingbird 1; Mockingbird 3; Meadowlark 9; English Sparrow 7. 10:15 (St. Mary's River, boundary between Florida and Georgia) to 11:40 (Jessup, Ga.): Mrs. S. helpt me check the census, as follows: Mourning Dove 12; Orchard Oriole 1; English Sparrow 10; unknown 13; Crow 5; Sparrowhawk 2; Meadowlark 2. Red-shouldered Hawk 2; Chimney Swift Bluebird 2; Black Vulture 30; Red-headed Woodpecker 3; Turkey Vulture 10 Kingbird 3; Mockingbird 3;

Apr.29 - Ya., S.C. 25 Purple Snackle 19; Boat-tailed Snackle 12; Purple Martin 4. Further along towards Savannah, noted 2 Nighthawks and at least 7 Bluebirds. Up to here the country continues pine barrens, tho with somewhat increasing deciduous growth. 2:30(Yemasse)to Green Pond(3:30), in South Carolina, noted following, Mrs. J. checking: Turkey Vulture 2; Shrike 3; Bluebird 5; Meadowlark 15; Crow 4; Lingbird 2; Wood Pewee 1; Mockingbird 6; unknown 14; Black Vulture 2; Brown Thrasher 2; Yellowthroat 1; Flicker 1; Red-wing Blackbird 31; Bobwhite 8; English Sparrow 1; Red-headed Woodpecker 1; Boat-Tailed Snackle 2. Approaching Charleston, extensive swamps and areas of tall grass bordering rivers were crost; and the dry

26 Apr. 29 - S.C. land when not cultivated is covered with rich deciduous growth. Here are cypress in its scrags, but the pines have nearly all disappeared. The soil is richer, as attested by numerous thriving truck garden. April 30 In Charleston Museum: A mounted ? Duck Hawk (no. 332), adult is more heavily streaked on jugulum and transversely spotted on lower breast, sides and belly, than the darkest Blackbird I can recall; hence pealei again discounted! Note: - Establish reading rack in Museum for display of current periodicals & separates -- to a year old, coming to anyone. The individual property remains on papers and magazines signed.

Apr. 30 - S.C. 27 inclined racks at side of room: In black laboratory-table finish display all museum specimens, arranged chronologically? Note: - Secure Wayne's S.C. Bird list & complete set of publs. of Charleston Museum from latter for U.C. Libs. Note: - Have card files, at least acc. + Dept., puncht for rods and rods locked, as in Charleston Museum. Note: - All Printed label cards in Charleston Museum are on light buff, not white; Skeletons and birds mounted against dull black background. Grizzly # 2044 Charleston Mus. So. - California" - from Wards, 1890.

28 Apr. 30, S.C. This afternoon, went out to the "the Battery"; in Park there, and observed about the city of Charleston, noted: Clairvoy Swift (fully 2 dozen, flying about overhead in different parts of town and twittering weakly); Mockingbird (6 or 8, singing tirelessly); English Sparrow (swarming). Note: - Buy bird skins from Wayne. Rea says he has a permit and is in a position to likely be amenable. The Charleston Museum, being "the oldest Museum in America", has to struggle with a mass of very old material (see Rea's article in Amer. Mus. Assoc. Proc., 9 looked up everything available to find possible California materia of historic interest. While there is no doubt but that LeConte, Bach Anderton, Holbrook, and perhaps other

Apr. 30 S.C. handed material here, the many years of neglect and the lack of permanent labeling, makes almost hopeless any definite determination of specimens. There are some labels in Bachman's handwriting, but data incomplete. Several spread but skins are labeled as having been used as basis of Audubon & Bachman's descriptions; but Myctis californicus could not be located among these. More recent material included bird-skins of Walliact, Price, Barlow, F.H. Holmes, & Heller, evidently drifted in thru acquisition of some local collector's outfit. Among mammals there were two geese, a ground squirrel, and a grizzly bear, all mounted, obtained thru Ward's Nat. Sci. Estab. about 1890. M.Rae,

30 Apr. 30 S.E. the director, asserts that he will watch out for records and specimens relative to the West & will inform me of any finding of interest. This is certainly a useful job I overlooking that ought to be done, and he has very little resource to draw upon. May 1 9:50 am. - To Richmond, Va. Country this morning looks different—drier more rolling, with mixed deciduous and pine woods, rivers on rock bottom. Birds noted since entering Virginia: Bluebird 1; Crow 4; Yellow Warbler 1; Turkey Buzzard English Sparrow (scores in each city); Spotted Sandpiper 1. 11:45 a.m. - at Fredericksburg, Va. Fully 20 Chimmney Swifts cavorting about over the city home-tops. Here

May 1, Va. one find that the English Sparrows haven't nested! Have also seen along: Crow (about 10); Turkey Vulture 5; Eastern Kingbird 1; Meadowlark 6. A few miles back, short-leaved pines dominate, rather abruptly replacing the long-leaved, southern pines. Also deciduous forest, which is unexpectedly extensive, looks different. The trees here are only just leafing out, as if spring were just coming on. Washington, D.C. U.S.N.M. — Tray—black-lined or dark-green-lined; size to fit two side by side in a unit tray; for series of skulls during examination. Number in lead pencil all glass stoppers to alcoholics jars, with same number as jar is numbered. Jars should be numbered: start A;

32 May 2 - D.C. Shelf b; number (bottle) 6. Thus Ab 6 w goes on stopper and jar label (a stick small, or outside of bottle. A full label goes on inside of jar, showing them. Samples secured. Catalog systematically and geographically. Referring again to trays for skull- examination, referred to on preceding page; we should have about 8 made with 3/4-inch rim all around. Some series of skulls can then be kept out, that is, separate from main collection, until a study is wholly complete. May 3 7 a.m. - A [illegible] Cardinal in an elm outside the window (1327 Girard St.), gives frequently a not loud "trips", not unlike that of Andelion Warbler - nothing like as loud as Black-headed Grosbeak. Occasionally the Cardinal gives a few low warbling notes, but

May 3 - D.C. no land say. the folks say that there is a nest building in a rosebush in a neighbor's yard. Other birds seen, casually, around Washington: Chimney Swift (often half-a-dozen or so twittering weakly high overhead); Purple Grackle (two pairs among street trees down near the White House); Robins (loud singing in late evening in the park near the National Museum); English Sparrow (swarming everywhere). at U.S.N.M. - I find that all eggs had been measured and Tabulated under Bendire's supervision - that is, as regards game birds. But only down to .5 mm., evidently nearest even or 5/10. Dr. Means says G.S. Miller is color blind! He cannot properly

34 May 3 O.C. diagnose colors and he Runs it; he to go to Hollieter to help him. He can only tell between light & dark! Dr. Richmond tells me John Feimer (of Calif. Exploration in 1860) was killed by Indians in No. Calif. Mention of death will be found in Smiths Rep. previous & about 1870. Major Mearns is much different from what I expected. I had picture him as a tall military-looking man of about middle age; but instead he is old and feeble - a small man, with drooping white mustache. People tell me Dr. Mearns has Bright's disease and has not been expected to live from month to month. He tells me he must finish his Roosevelt African report first, and then his Philippine

May 3 D.C. report, before getting back on the 2nd part of his Mammals of the Mexican Boundary. But he can only work a brief period each day, and seems very tired. He has been retired from the Army on half pay. Ridgway left Washington about 3 weeks ago, to spend his time in Illinois in his "farm" until perhaps next December. His Part VII is due to be issued today, tho I have seen no copy. Hollister says G.S. Miller can distinguish browns all right, but that his "color-blindness" is total with regard to tones of green. Hollister has just shown me a scheme of his in labeling large tanned) mammals. He has an envelope with a brass eye, to tie

36 May 3 A.C. To the skin in lieu of the regular Tag, and in this heavy Manila Envelope with the flaps pasted she With library paste (not gummed) is Put all the original labels, often Small and weak, so that they can never become lost by being Filed separately. Our M.V.Z. skins ought to be attended to at once according to this method, so as to insure permanent presence of the various small field labels. A rather heavy soft cotton twine is used. May 4 A.C. U.S.N.M. - Have just looked one Rusty grouse. Riley's series from Alberta (= typical umbelloides) are certainly not so old as the Yukon Valley specimens (6 available here). Riley's specimen should be sent

May 4 D.C. for, and the Alaska form named [illegible] also the White-tailed Ptarmigan of Oregon and Washington should be looked into! Bailey says that he is firmly of the opinion that English Sparrow can be eradicated in any one city. He thinks a single official sparrow-catcher in Washington could keep the city clear of them. He says he keeps his own neighborhood, "for Hawks" clear by scattering poisoned wheat down the middle of the streets (where other birds never go) among horse manure. Also Bailey thinks that, while A.K. Fisher's sparrow traps may not work, a process of netting, such as was employed with wild pigeons, would prove effective. An genious person, by baiting a

38 May 4 D.C. given place, where sparrows are already accustomed to congregate, selecting a kind of food which experiment showed was especially liked, could catch "entire flocks" at one time. Part, at least, of the cost of catching sparrows could be defrayed by disposing of them in the markets as "seed birds" or to zoological parks as food for various small carnivora mammals, which are difficult to provide for. Hollister puts number of tanned skins, with coarse pen, in one uniform place. Chas. S. Jenkins, Lansdale, Pa. Map roll in C.H. Merriam's office May 5 Visited Dr. C.H. Merriam's offices

May 5 '20 39 this evening. He has all his records in steel files, perfectly running. He has six safe cabinets fitted for card files, drawings, etc. Bound books for topographic maps which are mounted on the cloth leaves seem very serviceable. However, the M.V.Z. loose-leaf system has advantages, too. In his mammal files Merriam has large envelopes in which to store odds and ends -- memoranda, copies excerpts, letters, etc. There is an envelope for each North American mammal, and a guide- cord for each genus. I think we might well adopt such a plan at M.V.Z. for birds mammals and reptiles. California. Merriam uses clerical assistance in handling the files.

40 May 6 D.C. Miller and Hollister have just shown me Skulls treated with paraffin (ordinary commercial kind that comes in blocks), melted, to keep teeth from cracking and prevent decomposing or weak skulls from flaking. They believe in this paraffine method as thoroughly reliable. Skulls up to life size are put in wire baskets and lowered into a tank of melted paraffine & left there two days (or less, if teeth are not important - until air bubbles quit rising). The paraffin is of course surrounded by a water bath kept warm by an electric coil. The skulls acquire about one-third additional weight in paraffine and become yellowed, but are firm and are proven to henceforth

May 6 D.C. 41 deteriorate at much lesser rate. For adhesive, teeth labels, etc., they use Ambroid ( " banana oil" compound) which, altho poisonous, is better than glue, and does not wrinkle paper as does any watery solution. Their systematic catalog of the mammals of the world is very complete - kept up to date since first edition of Treussart in 1898 - bibliography by author, specific & generic names. Their copy of Treussart is kept up to 1898 by annotations. I am saving samples of their cards, which are large, 6x8" I think, so as to take full lines of typewriting. They copy copiously, but do not believe in cutting & pasting separate as does the B.S.

42 May 6 - D.C. Some birds seen about Washington the last 3 or 4 days, during auto drives along the speedway or out towards Chevy Chase, have been: Common Crow, Fish Crow, Robin, Wood Thrush, Song Sparrow, Cardinal, Purple Grackle, Yellow Warbler, Bluejay Yellowthroat, House Wren, Meadowlark May 7 Spent the three hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the National Zoological Park and in the adjacent Rock Creek Park. Rained during the night and part of the morning, but cleared up at noon. Cloudy or bright, it is warm and humid, conducive to free perspiration upon the slightest exertion. The "feel" of the air is totally different from that in most parts of Californ

May 7 - D.C. 43 Wild birds seen or heard, with certainty, were: Common Crow (about 12); Purple Grackle (fully 20); Rough-winged Swallows (3); Hickory (3 heard); Wood Thrush (at least 6); Wood Peewee (one, with pee-a-pee note high-pitched and plaintive -- nothing like western bird); Catbird (about 12); Cardinal (fully 10); Yellow-billed Cuckoo (one heard); Song Sparrows (about 5); Yellowthroat (about 5 males); Black-throated Blue Warbler (one & close by); Chestnut-sided Warbler (at least 6, one male within a few feet); Black-poll Warbler (about 4, song just as I heard it on the Kowalk in 1899); Blackburnian Warbler(1); Red-eyed Vireo (at least 6); English Sparrow (hordes). I should say that birds were here

44 May 7, B.C. much more numerous in individuals than they ever are on the Berkeley Campus; but, course the migration is on here now. The newly-leafed deciduous trees of many kinds offer abundant food (larvae, etc. at this season. This afternoon, 3 to 5, in Arlington cemetery and adjacent woods of old Lea estate. Birds seen: Mockingbird (one among grave stones); Robin (perhaps 20); Purple Finch (all over lawn, possibly 35); Crow (don't 6); Catbird (6); White-throated Sparrow (12 Ovenbird (6); Wood Thrush (4); Song Sparrows (2); Barred Owl (1 flushed from nearby a Tall crickory in woods); Chipping Sparrow; Scarlet Tanager (13); Red-eyed Vireo;

May 7-8th. Myrtle Warbler (15); House Wren (2); American Goldfinch (6); Yellow Warbler (2); Flicker (3); Cardinal (5); Tufted Titmouse (1); English Sparrow (25); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (18); Chimney Swift (about 6). May 9 Mr. & Mrs. Bailey took us out into Rock Creek Park this morning for just one hour, 7 to 8. Saw: Redstart (3); Robin (10); Rough-winged Swallow (2); Catbird (12); Red-headed Woodpecker (2); Flicker (1); Solitary Sandpiper (1); Kingbird (1); Spotted Sandpiper (4); Brown Thrasher (2); Cape May Warbler (2); Crossbill (8); Black-throated Blue Warbler (1); Bluebird(3); Carolina Chickadee (2); Wood Thrush (5); Belted Kingfisher (1); Louisiana Water-thrush (2); Purple Grackle (12); Song Sparrow (2); Yellowthroat (2);

46 May 9 D.C. Yellow Warbler (4); English Sparrow (2 Chipping Sparrow (1); Chimney Swift (5); Yellow-billed Cuckoo Dr. Paul Batch promises an illustrated article on Lower Califor Birds for Condor. Send Geo. Shiras, 3rd, Seattle 1909 Alexander Alaska report. Is interested in the Sitka Deer. Put Paul Batch on M.V.Z. mailing list. May 10 Out with the Baileys from 7:15 to 8:15 this morning in a stretch of woods across the Cherry Chase bridge. a Brilliant morning, cool but sunny, and migrating birds present in quantity. Saw following: Chimney Swift (6); Crow (10); Injsted Titmouse (2); English Sparrow (10 Wood Thrush (4); Olive-backed Thrush (4

May 10 A.C. Black and white Creeper (2); House Wren (2), Chipping Sparrow (2); Ovenbird (8); Acadian Flycatcher (1); Myrtle Warbler (6); Black-throated Green Warbler (6); Cardinal (6); Black-throated Blue Warbler (4); Flicker (3); Red-headed Woodpecker (2); Chewink (2); White-throated Sparrows (3); Kentucky Warbler (2); Bay-breasted Warbler (1); Blue Jay (5); Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1). This is a memory census, but we moved scarcely 200 yards along a road then the woods. Dr. Means offers to look up in his field notes colors of soft parts for any species he may have record of. We should apply to him in case of pigeons, quail, etc. Riley will get us from Virginia some bats. Has on hand several mammals which he will present.

48 May 11 - D.C. Mr. Nelson suggests that the situation at Los Baños be written up as an example of how reclamation of marsh lands results in disappearance of ducks and other fresh-water birds. Bryant or Storer might be detailed to do this. Miller and Six might be led to set aside a square mile or so as a permanent refuge. In talking with Dr. Richmond, it occurs to me that a Condor Editorial on the opportunity for such find-records for Victorias might be an opportune topic. A "feature" record, someone to say "this is the call-note of the Wood Thrush" followed by said note; then "this is the song of the Wood Thrush", followed immediately by a clear rendering of the song

May 11 D.C. 49 from the bird itself. This would depend upon the possibility of cutting and splicing different fragments to make one continuous record properly spaced. Dr. Fisher says E.A. McDunnig lies, habitually! Nothing that he says can be believed. Dr. Fisher also declares than any general statement by C.E. Bendine is perfectly reliable. Bendine himself wintered in Arizona, and if he says that B-T Pigeons winter there, then they do! May 12 Went out with the Bailey's at four this morning, 7 & 8, in the lower part of the Rock creek district. The trees are well leaved out now, and foliage rather dense; than the wind was blowing, so that today fewer

50 May 12 - A.C. Birds were clearly to be seen. Noted: Black-throated Blue Warbler (12, Black-and-white Warbler (3); Flicker (2); Meadowlark (2); Frederic's Bunting (1), Great Crested Flycatcher (1); Catbird (1); Yellow-breasted Chat (1); Robin (4); Carolina Chickadee (2); Tufted Titmouse (2 Kentucky Warbler (2); Oven-bird (6); Myrtle Warbler (4); Bluejay (2); Chewink (2); Field Sparrows (1, song stirbling like that of Black-chim Sparrow); Purple Grackle (10); Crow (8), Brown Thrasher (2); Cardinal (2). Have the 2 B. S. copies of Condor transferred from Cooke to Oberholser; also M.V. Z. publs. The files of migration data + the general work on distr. + rings of N.Amer birds form under charge of Cooke, have now been placed in

May 12 D.C. 5/1 change of Oberholser. Picus Natalia Malherbe, Journ, für Orn., 1854, p. 171; from Mexico; this is a synonym for the Williamson Sapsucker. Dr. T.S. Palmer has just shown me Sutton, Vieillot, Gmelin, etc., when they treat of the Red-breasted Sapsucker. He agrees emphatically that ruber, flaviventris, troostensis all were based on Cook's bird from Northa Sound, and that daggetti is the only name usable for the southern race, from California. May 13. 10 a.m. - Wm. Palmer has just been talking with me. His interests now lie with Cetaceans. He says True was a very careless worker; published twice as much as he ought; papers full of errors.

52 May 13 A.C. Palmer says True left unpublished at least six practically complete manuscripts, which ought to be printed, as showing True's final conclusions and ideas as to species and synonymy. But it has been decided not to print them. The question was submitted to G.S. Miller, who rules that nothing should ever be printed after a man is dead! 6:30 p.m. -- Have come to Plummer's Island, in the Potomac 10 1/2 miles above Washington, the property of the Washington Birgeys' Field Club. I am guest of Dr. A.K. Fisher, who points out plants, birds, etc., so that I can learn the names. May 14 Plummer's Island. -- Last evening I hear my first Whips-poor-will -- the notes much

May 14 - S.C. 53 less mellow than in Poorwill, the accent on first and especially the last syllable, and the latter rolled—buried with r's, the whole repeated without taking breath an interminable length of time, unmoving, until the ear becomes almost numb to it. Then a Barred Owl close at hand made a weird series of sounds— reminding one much of the Spotted Owl. A Horned Owl across the river from the Virginia shore hooted exactly as they do in California. Two Morning Doves called across the river at late dusk; and a Green Heron hurried up-stream; later, a Nighthawk sounded. Was up at daylight, 4:30, this morning, just as the Wood Thrushes were setting up a great noise. I heard a Whip-poor-will and a Barred Owl; and the Green Heron hurried past down the river. Birds noted

54 May 14 - Z.C. up to 8a.m., most of the time when I was in company with Dr. Fisher, included other species as follows: Common Crow; Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Downy Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Kentucky Warbler Magnolia Warbler, Calbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse, Redstart, Olive-backed Thrush, Wood Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Rough-winged Swallow Cardinal, Belted Kingfisher, Spotted Sandpiper, Blue Jay, Wood Pewee, Phoebe, Red-headed Woodpecker, Black-throated Blue Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler, Carolina Wren Carolina Chickadee, Black-and-white Warbler White-throated Sparrow, Bob-white, Turkey Vulture, Baltimore Oriole. Plummer Island contains 16 acres.

May 14 - D.C. Dr. Fisher estimates that there are 3 breeding pairs of birds to the acre, or about 100 individual adults before the young are out. Of course just now there are more; I should say all together fully 20 to the acre. Drives of warblers scatter through the tree-tops one after another. Made several excursions during the day to the Maryland mainland, and in the evening walked several miles towards Washington along the canal on the Maryland side of the Potomac. Saw birds as follows: Carolina Wren (a brood of 4 young around a building; they could scarcely fly and were being stalked by a cat); Indigo Bunting (at least 6 brilliant males foraging in open places along the

56 May 14 - D.C. canal); Baltimore Oriole (loud singing song much superior to that of any California species except Scott); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (a pair with notes and actions exactly like California birds); Wood Pewee (about 4, with plaintive high-pitched pee-a-wee, totally different from low drawl of Western bird); Great Crested Flycatcher (two heard, with harsh guttural notes something like those of ash-throated), Acadian Flycatcher (about 5, some rapid low mellow notes, and at intervals a louder explosive song, reminiding me of one of the note of the Western Flycatcher). May 15 Called on H.C. Oberholser at his house where he does the bulk of his unofficial bird work. He

May 15 - D.C. has been married for about 3 years, and during this time his wife hasn't done a stroke of housework. She is his secretary! He has a very large private ornithological library containing very many rare and expensive sets, such as Ebis, J. Fuc O, etc., so that he has his literature right at hand. The feature of his work is his card list of the Birds of the World, planned to supersede Sharpe. Mrs. O. has done a vast amount of work on this, typing tousands of references. There are full records of genera and all higher groups as well as of species, and Oberholser plans ultimately to put out a new and revised classification of birds. He deals with all

58 May 15 - D.C. fossil as well as existing species. This card catalogue looks very complex, as he uses not only many colors of cards but many colors of inks, each with some special meaning! Still has skins of Whooping Cranes to exchange. Might sell. Follow up. May 16 D.C. Get Newton H. Carpenter's article on organization, results, etc., at Chicago Art Institute. Report to Acad. Council. "A city museum is often merely a municipal attic." An ideal museum is "an institution for visual instruction." Dana's paper should be secured and used for ideas. Hollister says the only way to keep mammals from small

May 16 DC. 59 foxes and skunks up, is to have them thoroughly tamed. Made-up skins have sand and dirt in the fur, and the greater or less amount of grease inevitably left is sure to cause disintegration eventually. Even some of the lately collected B.S. stuffed skins are "rapidly falling to pieces". Mr. Kent declares that wood is superior to steel, for cases and shelving in museums and libraries, from a fire standpoint. In the Albany fire books in wooden shelves were charred, but those in steel cases were incinerated. Index labels for groups. Picture 1 group in center of poster (framed) with red index lines run out to names, and descriptive matter beneath.

60 May 17 D.C. Lighting of groups: much to be learned from theatrical artists; blue light for arctic groups - chilly; orange lights for desert scenes - warm. Miniature groups, near level eyes, with steps for children, are effective even as instructive as life-size groups. Cheaper, occupy less space, fill dark corners (artificially lighted). Mrs. Bailey wants me to send her a synopsis of what is needed as to life-history information concerning gamebirds: those species that might be met with in North Dakota. She wants to have her field observations count as adding to what is already known. May 18 Hollister tells me that he gets uniformly white or dark back.

May 18 D.C. + Maryland. grounds in still photos, by having appropriately colored curtains continually raised & lowered during the exposure. 12:40 p.m. - 3 p.m.: then Maryland to Newark, along Penna R.R. More cultivated land, with stretches of woods, and tree-lined streams. everything brilliantly green. Birds seen: Sparrowhawk (1); Turkey Buzzard (10); Eastern Kingbird (2); Chirky Swift (8); Red-winged Blackbird (12); Meadowlark (5); Mourning Dove (1); Crow (15); Purp[e] Grackle (5); English Sparrow (6). In Phila. at 4 p.m. As guest of Dr. Stone, I attended D.V.O.C. meeting at Academy this evening. About 30 men present, including S.N. Rhoads, G.S. Morris, J.A.G. Rabin, Dr. Spencer Trotter, Dr. Max Peet, etc. Very free discussion,

62 May 18 - Phila. and reports of seasonal bird records; much wit; evident good-feeling; smoking allowed; no ladies present! May 19 At Phila. Academy, Stone and Rhoads showing me anything and everything. Bird-skins more than a very few years old are so softy as to dirty one's hands in short order; only recently have air-tight cases been installed, tho' now they are quite well supplied. $100000 spent last year for cases. Everything ever gathered by Rhoads is now here, either by [illegible] gift or purchase. Stone says Rhoads is thrifty and even the well-to-do is not inclined to give away anything that there is any chance of selling! Rhoads' book-store barely pays expenses; run merely as a hobby.

May 19 - Phila. 63 Spent the evening with Stone in calling on J. Parker Norris, Jr., who has an immense egg collection. This man, and his father now dead, have accumulated great series, often a hundred sets of one species, of birds of prey, waders, and other tthings now scarce. I looked especially for California material, but found nothing of value relative to California game birds. But there are many sets of historic interest, as taken in the 80's and 90's by Heller, Skinner, Herron, Haight, Taylor, Barlow, et al. Lots of White-tailed Kite, Golden Eagle, Burr Hawk, + Prairie Falcon eggs from California. May 20 Very few of Rhoads' Skulls were cleaned when he studied his collections, only those he thought he needed. The

64 May 28 - Phila. rest, 3/4 at least, were kept 15 years or so before they came into the Academy's other possession and were cleaned, with the result that a very large proportion were found to have "grease-rotted." The skins, too, are many of them in bad shape, as they were simply dried inside out in the field, with a cross- quill in the tail. When made up, but poor results were obtained! Vaux (J. Swift fame) is pronounced "Vox"! He was a Philadelphian who died about 1880. For humor, Stone recommend reading Hatch, Birds of Minnesota, pp. 340-341. Dr. Stone showed me part of the very large number of type specimen of birds in the Academy's possession. There are large numbers of Gould's

May 20 - Phila Australian birds. I handled Cassin's type of Picus albolarvatus, of Picus thyroides and J nuchalis. Practically all of these birds were originally mounted, and have been unmounted with care. Stone himself has written all the labels, it being necessary to transcribe the data from the stands. There is certainly an air of antiquity and authority about this museum. Between 5 & 6 this evening Dr. Stone took us on trolley circuit thru Fairmount Park, where are extensive lawns, trees, and nearly natural woods. Birds seen: Starling (about 5, in flight, shy; wing-beats very rapid, swift flight, short tail); Robin (about 8, on lawns; one nest and 4 young being fed by parent, or timber under

66 May 20 Phila. roof of one-story station; heads of crowd of people not more than 6 feet beneath); Purple Grackle (everywhere, fearless, about 25); Chipping Sparrow (1); Blackburnian Warbler (1); Bluebird (2); Swift (12); Mourning Dove (2). May 21 This forenoon the Stones took us out by trolley about 8 miles west of Philadelphia -- open farming country with tracts of woods here and there and now and then a little street bordered by stucco or wct houses. We took a circuit of about three miles, zigzagging slowly. The first hour we were most active, and from 9:30 to 10:30, by exact pencil census, noted the following: Song Sparrow 4, English Sparrow 4, Field Sparrow 2, Purple Grackle 2, Great Crested Flycatcher 2, Swift 10,

May 21 - Phila. 67 Black and white Warbler 1, Barn Swallow 1, Parsela Warbler 1, Red-eyed Vireo 1, Redstart 4, Chipping Sparrow 1, Brown Thrasher 2, House Wren 1, Meadowlark 2, Robin 1, Crow 6, Ovenbird 4, Wood Pewee 3, Flicker 1, Blackburnian Warbler 2, Indigo Bunting 1, Black-throated Blue Warbler 2, Bluejay 1, Redwinged Blackbird 4, Yellowthroat 3, Gray-cheekT Thrush 2, Acadian Flycatcher 1, White-eyed Vireo 1, Jerky Vulture 1, American Goldfinch 2, Catbird 1, Phoebe 1. Total for the one hour, noted by me, 33 species, 75 individuals. The succeeding hour noted: Song Sparrow 7, English Sparrow 7, St. Crested Flycatcher 1, Barn Swallow 2, Swift 9, Robin 1, Field Sparrows 1, Purple Grackle 2, Meadowlark 3, Ovenbird 1, Crow 6, Brown Thrasher 1, Flicker 1, Redstart 1, Indigo Bunting 1, Yellowthroat 2,

68 May 21 Phila Redwinged Blackbird 2, Amer. Goldfinch 2, Chewink 3, Catbird 2, Phoebe 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 2, Kentucky Warbler Orchard Oriole 1, Vesper Sparrow 1, Bluebird 1, Starling 4, Kingbird 1. Total for the two hours: 41 species, 142 individuals, - evident, greater than possible in most parts of California. Migrants here are now in the minority, the still in evidence. Left Phila. for N.Y. at 4 p.m. 4:10 p.m. Saw four Starlings feeding blackbird-like in grass of lawn, Aliviously, within 30 feet of our train; yellow bill showed conspicuously. Then New Jersey saw: English Sparrow, Purple Grackle, Crow. May 22 Went out into Central Park with T.J. Nichols this evening.

May 22 - New York Weather cloudy, and rather cold last wind. In spite of this, birds are numerous. From 5:05 to 6:05 noted: Robin 11 (on sitting on nest 5 feet up on branch of small tree); Redstart 6; Purple Grackle 7; Parula Warbler 2; Baltimore Orioles 5; Brown Thrasher 1; Grey-cheeked Thrush 2; Wilson Thrush 1; Olive-backed Thrush 1; Nighthawk 1; Black-poll Warbler 1; Black Duck 9 (including 7 and here brood of 5 downy young); Myrtle Warbler 2; Canadian Warbler 3; Waterthrush 1; Magnolia Warbler 1; Least Flycatcher 1; Maryland Yellowthroat 1; unknown 1. Total 19 species and 57 individuals for one hour. A little later saw an Ovenbird, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Chimney Swift. Total 24 species.

70 May 23 New York It is suggested that the increase of the English Sparrow will be self-limited. Already, as several have told me, sparrows are not as plentiful about Eastern cities as they used to be. This is due perhaps in part to replacement of the house by the motor, in other words, to reduced food-supply. In addition, as urged by Dr. Stone, other factors must come in—appearance of new checks such as internal parasites and external predatory enemies. Among the latter are crows around Washington, cats, & sharp-shinned hawks. It is thus to be expected that the native birds will gradually come into their own again. At Amer. Mus.—I find that F.M. Chapman has left for South America. W.deW. Miller is in

May 23 New York 71 change of the ornithology department, with two assistants. Miller says Chapman's interest are now wholly concentrated on S. Amer. Dr. Dwight has his own N.Amer. collections here in a separate room, specially outfitted with cases by himself; and the Museum has apparently left it to him to gather material from N.Amer. In manuals I am surprised at the lack of curatorial care shown by the collections, and this holds in a degree for the birds, too. Nothing seems to be up to date, either in the arrangement or labelling of specimens. As admitted by an assistant, everything is left to inexperienced persons to catalog, and no one checks up for mistakes, of which I

72 May 23- New York see numbers. Expeditions to S.Am th. Arctic, and Africa are the thing. Probably it is easier to secure funds for distant enterprises than to work up and care for collections already on hand. Dr. Allen is about the liveliest wire around, in spite of his age. He is working indefatigably in S.Amer. now, as his rapid output of papers show, and he tells me he will soon tackle the Congo collections! May 24 H.E. Anthony, son of A.W. Anthony, is Dr. J.A. Allen's assistant. He leaves for two month's trip to Porto Rico shortly to get general collections of vertebrates. The impression I get is that Anthony is in line to fill Dr. Allen's shoes. Have looked at the great number.

May 24 - New York and manuals I habit groups of birds in the Mus. Museum. These are nearly all much smaller that those attempted by Rowley in the Calif. Academy. I get the notion that all here are assembled that space permits. There is a continual complaint of lack of room. A new wing of the Museum has long been planned but the City has failed to come together with the appropriation. A nuisance in these big city museums is the number of dead zoological park animals that come in to be cared for. Very many of the skeletons as well as skins are acquired in this way. Strike Geo. Bird Grinnell for old volumes, or complete set, of Forest & Stream. He has a complete set and might part with it!

74 May 24 New York Out in Central Park with Dr. E. A. Chapman from 4:20 to 5:20 this evening. During the one hour saw: Redstart 3, Purple Grebe 6, Robin 12, Black-throated Blue Warbler 1, Night-hawk 1 Grey-cheeked Thrush 2, Myrtle Warbler 4 Black Duck 3, Yellow Warbler 1, Starling 1 Maryland Yellowthroat 2, Song Sparrow 1, Wilson Warbler 2. Total 13 species, 39 individuals; also scores of English Sparrows. Set record 16448 for Victoria. May 25 With Dr. E. A. Chapman to Bronx Park. Migrating birds swarming. This is said to be a late year. Day overcast but warm. Saw, 9:10 to 10: Chestnut-sided Warbler 2, Robin 7 (one bob-tailed young), Redstart 5, Baltimore Oriole 4, Red-eyed Vireo 6, Canadian Warbler 2, Wood Pewee 1

May 25 - New York 75 Orchard Oriole 1, Bay-breasted Warbler 5, Wood Thrush 1, Chimney Swift 2, Purple Grackle 5, Bluejay 2, Flicker 3, Black-billed Cuckoo 1, Black-poll Warbler 2, Brown Thrasher 1, Black-crowned Night Heron 1, Starling 1, Scarlet Tanager 1, Chewink 1, Crow 2, Gray-cheeked Thrush 1, Tennessee Warbler 1, Black-throated Blue Warbler 1, Yellow-throated Vireo 2. Total for the first hour 26 species, 61 individuals. Continuing, saw from 10:10 to 11:10 a.m.: Robin 12, Redstart 7, Baltimore Oriole 1, Flicker 3, Red-eyed Vireo 4, Canadian Warbler 6, Bay-breasted Warbler 10, Purple Grackle 2, Bluejay 2, Starling 2, Brown Thrasher 1, Scarlet Tanager 1, Crow 1, Gray-cheeked Thrush 2, Ovenbird 1, Black-throated Blue Warbler 1, Catbird 2, Magnolia Warbler 3, House Wren 3, Black Duck 3, Spotted Sandpiper 2,

76 May 25 New York. Indigo Bunting 1, Wilson Warbler 1 Total for the two hours: 34 species, 132 individuals. The vegetation is perfect and all deciduous; green from floor of woods to canopy, undergrowth plentiful; insects, carpus etc., much in evidence; green brilliant; some trees only just coming into leaf. Aspect totally different from anything in Calif. Western "freshner" decided in the East, or around Columbia Univ. Dr. Jordan not secured at Columbia! Write to Murphy for specimens of his cases in which as displayed the local birds (mounted) of Long Island. Neutral gray background is employed. Idea: There is an optimum quantity of exhibits; beyond this,

May 25, New York improvement in quality, effectiveness, and instruction is the only kind of advance possible. The big exhibit tires the visitor; small exhibits, in each field, are likely to realize most on the investment; if well selected. May 26 Had a visit with Dr. C.H. Townsend time afternoon at the Aquarium. I find him to be about 60 years old but very vigorous - a typical executive, fills schemes for expanding the Aquarium, tho I can't for the life of me see why it isn't at its optimum usefulness right now. He goes strong on the figures of attendance - 3 million per year, more than attendance at all other N.Y. museums combined, yet he has least financial support!

78 May 26 - N.Y. Found the Museum of the Brooklyn Institute much larger than I expected. The natural history floors are very well arranged. The local (Long Island) bird room, being arranged under the direction of Murphy, is the best I have seen in that line. An alcove in U.C. Library might well be devoted to a similar exhibit. One feature is the lack of crowding on the wall-case backs; another is the use of light blue label cards, so that they disappear at a little distance. This is certainly an improvement over the buff-colored ones, especially as displaying against the light neutral gray background. Murphy is young, but a hustler and shows excellent museum ability. In his research, however, he attempts

May 26 - H.Y. 79 Too many kinds, 1 subjects – m-mograph of seals, birds (tubnavins), local fauna and flora. He cannot possibly do good work in so many directions. J.T. Nichols collaborates in the "fauna and flora of Long Island," as also in some of the systematic bird papers. At Columbia University, this morning, saw the zool. laboratories, and especially T.H. Morgan and his flies (Drosophila). He seems to depend largely on his assistants – graduate students, to do the detailed observing & handling of flies. There is a general air of disorder and carelessness; but Chas. L. Camp says Morgan is keen enough to more than counteract the influence of this. Morgan showed me his castrated fowls, where secondary sexual

"May 26 N.Y. characters were modified within two weeks after the operation. All I wish to show powerful influence of hormones secreted there and carried through the body from the testes. Yesterday at the Bronx, visited the Zoo and met Hornaday, Ditmar and Lee Candall. Saw the "Natural Collection of Heads & Horns" under escort of Dr. Hornaday, in Administrate Building. This collection, including also large paintings of mammals by Remigio, is evidently a tool of Hornaday's in getting and holding the interest of wealthy sportsmen in the Zoological Park, the latter depending largely on annual membership fees and subscription for its support. Dr. Hornaday is not as vigorous-looking and -talking as he writes. Yet, one gets the

May 26 N.Y. 81 same impression - of superlative consciousness of personal achievement! May 27 Dear. Mrs. - just learned some interesting things from Miss Melloy, typographer in Dr. Allen's office. She has used the same machine for 5 years! - type wobbly, worn out generally. Yet expeditions are sent at great expense continually. No worry to get new machines, or to properly arrange collections! Dr. Allen is very economical in all office expenditures. May 28 Out to Long Island, where we were entertained by John Lewis's children at his Floral Park home. He is a self-made man in truth, not at all educated, pretty conceited, but with lots of ambition industry and ingenuity. His

82 May 28 New York ornithological bent - a side issue of his business as peddler and florist is evidenced in an expensive collection of birds' eggs and bird books. He has spent $20,000 on the latter which includes nearly all of the expensive folio works - Audubon, Gould, etc. One notable thing is a bound set of Brooks original paintings 14 species of birds which nest in the vicinity of Child's home on Long Island. This volume is interleaved with printed accounts by himself, also photos (of himself - frontispiece), letters from Roosevelt, etc. The egg collection includes many rarities, such as Passenger Pigeon, Carolina Parquet and Doves-billed Whip. No expense having been spared to get one or two sets of each species. Later we motored out

May 28 New York to call on R. C. Murphy who has his summer home in a house owned by J. T. Nichols in Garden City, L.I. I am very much impressed with Murphy's ability as an all round executive zoologist - not a research man. Wild birds seen around Floral Park: Chipping Sparrows (2 nests in bushes in the front yard, one with bird on), Starling, Meadowlark, Robin, Catbird, Kingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Purple Grackle. May 29 We dined last evening with Dr. & Mrs. J. A. Allen at their apartment, corner Amsterdam & 103rd ST. They are both delightful people, genial and gentle. In spite of his years, Dr. Allen is alert mentally - does all the editing of Amer. Mus. pubs., as well as his department routine, and then turns out systematic papers 3 or 4 a month.

84 May 29 New York He got out the field notebooks of his expeditions - one in Brazil written in 1866 (I think it was) the other then northern Dakota in 1873. He read extracts, and commented from memory recounting incidents in crossing the plains and with the Indians. Then he talked about South American wasels, which he has just been studying, cases in monographure, and his experience in meeting at Monaco with the International Zoological Congress in 1913 (?). Called on J. Gilbert Pearson this forenoon, at offices of Nat. Assoc. of Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway. a very commendable thing is the modesty of the office furnishings - in marked contrast to those of Hornaday for instance. An appear of poverty and crowdedness would

May 29 New York 85 seem to me the best asset of any philanthropic concern! Pearson has 30 people at work, handling organization business, answering enquiries, and ceding out leaflets. He is a chustler himself, tho his chief pride appears to be in the amount of money that passes thru his hands -- $100000 this year! I cannot help feeling that he is a floor-walker type of man. He, in turn, dislikes Hornaday very much; says that dabbler, H. impresses me as being the greatest man in the country, with myself (the visitor) as second. Pearson spent most of the time telling me how sympathetic he is with the interests of the collector; how he does nothing knowingly against them; and that he often has to buck

86 May 29 New York his own interests to maintain consistency. He complains that ornithologists do little to helping but know him when he fails to do what they think he ought to. At Amer. Mus. awhile this aft. Dwight's assistant, young Thurston puts up very good bird skins, and it might be worthwhile for MVZ to hire him to collect some Long Island birds. Also W.W. Worthington in Florida and A.P. Smith in Texas furnish an excellent male J skin. MVZ ought to fill out its eastern birds into fair series. Mrs. Murphy reports that the easiest way to get bats is to shake a whip back & forth, the vibrations of which attract the bats which we then be hit by appropriate use of the same instrument.

May 30 - To Providence & Boston 87 Left N.Y. at 8:20 for Boston, stopping over at Providence from 1 to 5 p.m., and arriving Cambridge 7 p.m. Took pencil census of birds (Mrs. G. checking) from Stamford, Conn. (9:20 a.m.) to New Haven (10:20): Redwing Blackbird 13; Starling 28; English Sparrow 15; Bronzed Grackle 14; Catbird 1; Chimney Swift 19; Robin 3; Crow 7; Bluebird 3; Barn Swallow 6; Hickory 2; Kingbird 2; Unknown 12. It looks as the black birds are the most easily seen from moving train, hence most conspicuously scored. Any black species seem to greatly preponderate in all train censuses. Also note abundance of Starlings all then this country (Phila. at least to Boston) - more conspicuous even than English Sparrows. Latter seen to occur exclusively in the larger towns. The NY NH & H RR skirts

88 May 30 Providence to Boston the sea all the way. There are round hills, with a great amount of surface rock, interspersed with broad meadows at sea-level. The hills are abundantly clothed with deciduous growth, low brush to trees, the latter not large but often very dense-growing chestnuts, nearly all dead. Some hemlocks seen, and also towards Boston, pines. At Providence visited the Park Museum where Mr. Harold S. Madison is Curator. Found the institution growing rapidly, too new. Features of interest were as follows: Mr. Madison's pet wall case looks suited to an exhibit I find at Berkeley Campus. I could get exact specifications direct from him. There are no shelves, but birds are perched on huckleberry twigs fastened out from

May 30 Providence the back whil (and the bottom) is lined with neutral gray linen, iving a very pleasing effect; a 2 rail (high) base, with glass on ll bot back side; whole 7 ft. high. Then there is his admirable small movable habitat case or "box group case", not built in. Outside immersion 5' x 7' x 4', with 3 ft. square glass in front; the lower edge of this front glass 30" from floor; this glass too slants in from top to bottom, with to every part of height, thus disposing of the reflections that are usually so troublesome. The fore and aft depth (4 feet) is sufficient to allow of all sorts of background effects; tho a single study as preferred, as with a painting - not complicated. Complexity destroys artistic effect.

90 May 30 Providence A simple background, and one subject in each case. The finer groups (if grades, etc.) seemed to me fully as instructive and pleasing as the elaborate groups in Am. Mus., and when cost and space is considered, much better. This box case costs her $125.00, while the group contents, including domed painted backgron cost $150.00 more; the lighting is artificial, absolutely concealed. The wall-case previously referred to, cost $125.00. .. Saw also at the Park Museum, the big collection of mounted birds gather d by the late Marly Hardy, which includes very many rarities secured many years ago from W E. Bryant, Stephens, et al., such as practically all of

May 30 Providence to Guadaloupe species. These are to be all displayed, as many as already. Met Mrs. Fanny Hardy Eckstorm, who is installing her father's collection. She wrote a book on the woodpeckers and evidently knows a very great deal of systematic ornithology. She makes very positive statements about things, which are sometimes amazingly erroneous. May 31 Mus. Comp. Zool.: Cambridge.— Mr. Bangs has Melospiza m. mexicana to exchange for California subspecies. Get J. Mailhond to send in-the-flesh to me vs some mailliardi for Bangs. See if we have riuralaris. Bangs has a very good scheme of collection arrangement. at

92 May 31 Cambridge the first of each family of birds he has a "first series" consisting I but one pair, ♂ + ♀, I each species in that family, characters plumage, for gross comparison. Thus from usually but one tray of specimens one can get an idea of the numbers and characters of related forms. a possible improvement would be to have all the "first series" together in one case. Mr. Samuel Henshaw, director I M. C. Z., seems to be a very active old man, good- natured, and progressive. Spent the day in company of Mr. Outram Bangs, who is curator of birds. I looked up many California and Alaska birds. Was particularly

May 31 - Cambridge surprised to find a large collection of birds from California, the "Henry Bryant collection". This includes specimens taken by J.G. Cooper, C.A. Allen, Xantus, R.H. Bede (1891), and by H. Bryant himself at Fort Tejon, Fort Croton, San Francisco, Sonoma, etc. June 1 at M.C.Z. had a short visit in morning with Dr. Glover M. Allen in mammal dept. Then Bangs took me by machine the 50 miles to Shayer's, at Lancaster. The day was spent with Col. Shayer at his fine home and in his private museum in the village of Lancaster. Col. Shayer is said to be worth 8 millions, and there is every evidence of his wealth about his place. The museum is

94 June 1 Lancaster fire-proof, and the bird skins are kept in the best style of metal case. Mr. Thayer labels and arranges his collection himself, and it is the best card-for collection I have seen anywhere. The only criticism I can offer is that he buys stuff from all sorts of people - some ignorant or unreliable. Data are often imperfect, localities lacking or impossible to locate, and these may lead to bad records some day. Mr. Thayer is generous, and gives lots of

June 1 Lancaster 95 Thayer is just now sending W.W. Burns to head of Gulf of Calif. to get Pallid Horned Lark, just because this is only subspecies of 2toons he now lacks! But Thayer's folly certainly results in careful preservation of a great quantity of rare specimens, and this will doubtless ultimately go to some public institution. I should ask Thayer for gift of certain from California birds to MVZ, where he has large series. Wild finds I saw around Lancaster were: Bobolink (15 in full song-flight over meadow); Meadowlark (2); Chipping Sparrow (6); Red-eyed Vireo(1); Robin (about 12, including a bob-tailed young ); Bronzed Grackle (10); Starling (4);

96 June 1 Lancaster Baltimore Oriole (4); Barn Swallow Spotted Sandpiper (2); Yellow Warbler Crow (4); Chimney Swift (12); Kingbird (2); Bluebird (8); Flicker (2, June 2 Get from C.G. Maynard, West Newton, Mass., his "A Field Ornithology of the Birds of Eastern Nori America." This is just out & would bear upon Yosemite report. Visited Mr. E.H. Forbush, at State Home, Boston, this morning. He is a live wire! We should have him out to lecture at U.C. summer school next year. Negotiate at once! I talked book with him. His "Shore-birds and wild fowl" was issued first in a 5000 edition at a cost of $4500 this including lights, 1 col. pl., pty. & binding. This would be about $0.90 per copy, & the selling price is $1.00

June 2 Boston paper now, however, costs double what it did then. Last ed., I 5000 cost but 30000, tho mostly from same plates. Some copies are sent out gratis, but margin between 70c & $1.00 pays for them. Editions are now practically self-perpetuating. Mr. Forbush thinks colored plates are a thing. Must be in any bird book; circulation trebled thereby. Mr. Forbush thinks there is little chance that the Federal migratory bird-law will be sustained. The enemies of it in the middle West, who are determined to get back spring shooting, have quantities of money & congressional pull. "The B.S. is baffled." T.S. Palmer was downed by this influence. Hornaday ain't do much; anyway he is a drowsy no-one wants to

98 June 2 Boston work with him. "He wants full credit to himself for every cause he contributed to!" This afternoon in Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. with Dr. Glover M. Allen. U.C. should have a complete set of C.J. Maynard's books. These can be obtained only from the author, who is now about 70 years old; he has but just gotten out a small book [as previously noted] written, figures engraved, typed and bound, all by himself! The Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. has a building and lot all its own. The building is devoted chiefly to exhibits in zoology, including a large synoptic series of mounted birds, very many of them from the old Lafresné collection which was bot in America.

June 2 Boston 99 The types in the letter are mostly in MCZ. Then there is a very good zoological library, about 5th in America. The Boston Society is very old and has had a series running a long time, so that many of the old series have come to it by exchange. Dr. M. Allen is Secretary of Bost. asst ice., as well as Curator of mammals at MCZ, working alternate days at the two places. saw mounted two Oystercatchers but by Daniel Webster, a sample of my many other historical and record specimens. They have two Labrador Ducks, but only skeletons and "fossil" eggs of Great AuK. In mammals there are many single mounts of New England species, but not really any study material.

100 June 3 Boston Spent the forenoon with Glover Allen in the mammal collection of M.C.Z., where he is asst curator of mammals. Saw lots of types of western mammals described by Bangs. Among them were: Neurotrilemus hyacinthus, Putorius muricus, Dipodomys pallidulus (evidently based on young D. californicus), Ochotma saxatilis, O. cuppes, Sciuroptus lascivius, Putorius menducus, Scapanus minusculus. Also there are some good series from the Pinto Nts., Kern Co., taken by W.W. Brown, incl. winter pelage of Eutamias nevianus kernensis, & Perodipus perplexus (wonderfully uniform in great size of ear). Allen himself is quite alert at detecting new subspecies and has a number of western stunts in view. He has things well arranged, & conscientiously

June 3 Boston 101 labeled. As regards type-localities it is suggested that a monument be erected on each, and the locality photograph and figured with the description! June 4 Left Boston at 8:30 last evening, and 7 5 this morning passed Newport, Vermont; thence to Montreal, and at Ottawa at noon. Many lakes in landscape, only low hills, many streams; land seems to be mostly cleared forest; waste portions full of ancient stumps, and fences consisting of same. Only about 1/2 of land is tilled, and all just sprouting to chiefly grain. Woods mostly deciduous— aspen, birch, tr.; some conifers— a pine, cypress and hemlock. Only occasionally are old trees to be seen. Birds noted between Montreal and

June 4 Ottawa Ottawa, 3 1/2 hrs. (memory serves): Crow (fully 35); Bronze Creeper (12); English Sparrow (3); Bobolink (5'); Red-winged Blackbird (4); Chimney Swift (2) Barn Swallow (8); Tree Swallow (4); Flitcher (1); Red-headed Woodpecker (1); Meadowlark (6); Robin (3); Kingbird (2). A beautiful warm sunshining afternoon, after the rather chilly rain of last night and this forenoon. We walked out from 3 to 5:30 to the Victoria Museum (closed on Sundays) and thence to the grounds around the ruins of the Parliament Bldgs. Maple trees, now in full leaf, line the streets and parkways, while there is abundant scrubbery along the Ottawa River. Birds are plentiful. This we didn't get out of the main city. Saw a Baltimore Oriole, 5, in full pursuit of a

June 4 Ottawa 103 Cross; many Chimney Swifts, some Purple Martins and at least two Nighthawks high overhead; English Sparrows swarm all thru the streets & yards; Robins are common in lawns, where full grown young as to be seen trailing their parents within reaching distance; Bronzed Grackles are common, and I saw a pair on electric light wires over main business street; heard at least three White-throated Sparrows in full song along the river bank. Distances: Boston to Montreal, 40 mi.; Montreal (to Vancouver, 2895) - to Seattle, 3059 mi. June 5 At Victoria Museum, with Mr. P.A. Taverner: The series of duck hawks includes some from the arctic coast, some from the Great Lakes and some from

104 June 5 Ottawa the Pacific Coast of B.C. Part of these are in molt, and all would be very significant in studying the status of peacel Just read letter from Allan Brooks whose address is II Army School of Sniping, B.E.F. Javernar has a U. Amer. base maps; address him with request in form to transmit, say for 200 copies. Javernar has Williamson Sapsucker from Midway, B.C., near where 119 Log crosses Canadian boundary. Javernar suggests that it is a Museum crime to display mounted rarities #, such as Passenger Pigeon, Labrador Duck, Carolina Parqust and Ivory-billed Duck, since they are bo to be ruined by the light. Javernar has a file of illustration or 8" x10" cards. These includ

June 5 Ottawa all sorts of photos, printed plates, and original drawings. The latter pertain, many of them, to colors of bill, eye, inside mouth, and feet; I birds from fresh specimens, some drawn by Taverner himself others by a special artist. During the winter, many birds come to the Museum in-the-flesh, frozen, from all over the Dominion. Taverner's pamphlet file (under authors, alphabetically) is rather laborate, each separate, even if two pages, being contained under a special card-board cover with title and author (in left hand corner) on back, and all laid on their sides. The collections here are well-bound in good cases, for the most part well labelled, and were largely

106 June 5 Ottawa gathered by John Macoun (now 80 years old) and his camp cook named Spreadborough. The latter has lately sent in much stuff on his own account. Then there is fresh material coming in for Rudolph M. Anderson on the Arctic Coast. Dr. Anderson is scheduled to become Curator of Mammals here when he returns. The younger Macoun (J.M., son) is now wholly engrossed in Botany; we further editions of "Catalogue of Canada Birds" will appear under that authorship. This evening we drove thru some parts and out to Mr. Forester's home. Birds seen were: Crow (july 15); English Sparrow (hordes); Clipping Sparrow (4); Yellow Warbler ( Maryland Yellowthroat (1); Flicker (1

June 5 Ottawa Bronzed Grockle (6); Chimney Swift (10); Sung Sparrow (4); Wood Pewee (4); Philadelphia Vireo (1 in sung in apple ree vaguely resembling warbling Vireo); NightbowkR (8); House Wren (1) ; Tree Swallow (a pair resting in bird-box in Javener's yord ); Robin (fully a dozen); Purple Martin (about Ten occupy a large bird-house on a pole in Javernis yard; at times until late duskR they were very and active noisy; The Tree Swallows, however, cent to bed at sundown}; Baltimore Oride (2). June 6 left Ottawa via Canadian Pacific RR at 1:22 a.m. At 10:10 a.m. read it orth Bay, Ont., having passed thru country of lakes, large rivers, rolling hills with marsh rock surface, and woods I must deciduous and

108 The Ontario, June 6 coniferous growth. There are occasional little forests, but mostly evidence of lumbering, vast numbers of logs floating in the rivers, stumps and burnt-over woods. All the trees in sight are probably 2nd or more growth; species recognized as aspen, balsam cottonwood, birch, maple, spruce, hemlock and cedar. Birds noted: English Sparrow (only around stations of large towns); Kingbird (1); Belted Kingfisher (1); Crow (about 6); St. Blue Hen (1); Red-winged Blackbird (6). Took pencil census (Mrs. J. check Veller to Sturgeon Falls, 10:45-11:15 a. with following results: Kingbird 2 Bronzed Grackle 4, unknown 10, Crow 10, Marsh Hawk 2, Bluebird Sparrowhawk 1, Tree Swallow 5, Sharp-shin Hawk 1, English Sparrow

June 7, Nipigon 109 Nipigon, 7:30 a.m. - Last night heard many frogs, even above noise of rain. Heard bird when train stopped a few minutes: Heresi Wren, White-throated Sparrow and Robin, all in full song. The north shore of Lake Superior is hilly and intimately wooded except where burned over or where, on level fluvial tracts, cleared for farming. Price seems to predominate, tho there is abundance of a short-leaved small pine resembling Pinus murayana, possibly an eastern representative of it. was a Loon out on Lake Superior, and also fully a dozen Herring Gulls near Port Arthur. From 8.55 to 15, in vicinity of an island station owned soon, noted: Bronzed Jackle 1, unknown 6, Crow 2, Kingfisher 1, White-throated Sparrows 1.

June 7 - Is Winnipeg 6:30 p.m. - At Lake of the Woods. Country consists of glacier-scoured rock ridges, with intervening depress occupied by boggy meadows or else lakes, very many of the latter. The general ground surface is flat, and the greatest heights above the lakes can't be more than 150 feet. The air is distinctly sharp in the shade - Canadian-zone summer temperature. There is much fore whenever the rocks and lakes permit but this forest is very short, ofen of dwarf-sized trees for great areas. There are a good many burned areas, with close stand of dead snags and dense new growth coming up. The light, almost yellow, green of the bursting deciduous growth contrasts strikingly with the

June 7 - To Winnipeg last leaders green of the conifers. The latter consist of spruces, & tamaracs on swampy ground, and scrubby lodgepole pines (P. contorta?) on the dry elevations. The prevalent deciduous trees seem to be birch, maple, and balsam poplar. There is a dense and continuous carpet, except on rock surfaces, of what looks like sphagnum moss, with patches of huckleberry, cherry, etc. It is very difficult to see birds from the train; perhaps there are fewer black species up here. Those noted since noon are: Bronzed Buckler (about 12); Crow (fully 15); Spoonbill (2); Mallard Duck (1, and other ducks in distance, and other water birds, diving at sight of train); Tree Swallow (2); English Sparrow (arriving in biggest towns),

June 7 - To Winnipeg White-throated Sparrow (heard common at several stops); Yellow Warbler (heard at stops); Olive-backed Thrush (heard at stop); Belted Kingfisher (?) Reached Winnipeg at 10 p.m. this bright evening sky still showing in N.W.

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