BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. n 



THE cambridgp: region. 



The precise locations of most of the woods, swamps, marshes and ponds 

 which I have had occasion to mention are shown by the maps accompanying 

 this Memoir. Certain of these places have become so changed of late that they 

 may be regarded — at least from the standpoint of the nature lover — as having 

 practically ceased to exist. Their former characteristics and surroundings, as 

 well as the present characteristics of a few other localities as yet essentially 

 unchanged but of especial interest to the ornithologist, may be described as fol- 

 lows. 



Old Cambridge and Cambridgeport. 



Our Garden. 



From the time of my earliest recollection to the year 1873 our home place 

 in Cambridge comprised about six acres of smooth, gently sloping land lying at 

 the point of intersection of Brattle and Sparks Streets, Cambridge. It was 

 bordered along both streets by rows of tall elms growing just within the enclos- 

 ing fences, while a dozen German lindens of the largest size, and probably 

 more than a century old at the date of my birth, were grouped about the 

 front of the house, which had been built before the Revolutionary War. 

 The rear of the house was embowered in purple and white lilacs, behind which 

 was an old-fashioned flower garden. Still further back were orchards of apple, 

 pear and peach trees, besides rows of raspberry, blackberry, currant and 

 gooseberry bushes. The unshaded portions of the grounds were devoted 

 chiefly to mowing fields, although a generous space was always set aside for 

 the vegetable garden ; there was also a small pasture for the cows and horses. 

 Several of the neighboring estates were similar in character and of equal 

 extent, while most of those scattered along the northerly side of Brattle 

 Street, in the direction of Mount Auburn, backed on a wide expanse of open, 

 farming country which stretched west and north to Fresh Pond and the Con- 

 cord Turnpike and was intersected by the deeply rutted cart path known as 

 Vassall Lane. 



