BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. 



23 



C. auratus. Golden-winged Woodpecker. Constantly heard in the woods, but I doubt 

 if more than one pair finds a good nesting place. Some years ago two or three pairs used to 

 breed every summer. 



ScOLOPACIDiE. 



Philohela tninor. Woodcock. Have known it to pass the summer twice. 



At the time to which Dr. Woodman's notes relate, Norton's Woods cov- 

 ered considerably more than twice their present area. If I remember rightly, 

 they were then surrounded on three sides by a fence which, although offering 

 no obstacle to the small boy of birds-nesting proclivities, served fairly well to 

 keep out the general public. Once within this enclosure one might roam at 

 will through woods and openings which, if not of great extent, were charmingly 

 primitive and secluded. The ground under the trees, most of which were white 

 pines, oaks and maples, was choked with undergrowth in places, and everywhere 

 carpeted with pine needles or beds of fallen leaves. Two sluggish little brooks 

 wound through the heart of the woods. One of them after emerging into the 

 sunlight again, discharged its brown, leaf-stained waters into a swamp filled with 

 blueberry and other bushes in which the Red-winged Blackbirds built their nests. 

 In view of these conditions it is not to be wondered at that such birds as the 

 Woodcock, Oven-bird and Pine Warbler continued to frequent the place in sum- 

 mer long after it had become hemmed in on every side by houses and other 

 buildings. 



The Blackbird swamp, situated in the angle between Kirkland Street and 

 Beacon Street, was drained and occupied by the Shady Hill Nurseries about 

 1884. Soon after this the neighboring woods were seriously cut into on their 

 southern side to make way for streets and houses, while some two or more acres 

 on their western borders were also cleared to form a ball-ground in the rear of 

 the Harvard Divinity School. As these changes are likely to be soon followed 

 by others of still greater magnitude, it may be well to put on permanent record 

 the following notes which I find in my journal under date of June 26, 1901 : — 



" Although the Norton estate has been greatly reduced in area during the 

 past thirty years, certain limited portions of it remain nearly unchanged. Espe- 

 cially true is this of the immediate surroundings of the old mansion house, which 

 stands on the crest of a hill of moderate elevation, in the midst of a group of 

 fine elms whose branches droop low over the roof. The winding driveway 

 that approaches the house from the west is shaded by large white pines, birches 

 and red maples, while on either side of it lie gently sloping, grassy fields sprin- 



