1878 Cambridge Mass.
July 14 (Sunday) While driving
this evening in Belmont I
saw a flock of about twenty
large birds that I could 
not make out at all. They
were flying South and passed
over the road about five hundred
yards ahead of me. It was
quite dusky and this added
to the distance, prevented me
from getting a satisfactory sight
at them. Their flight was rapid 
and direct and they moved
in a broad extended front, 
or line at right angles with their
course. The[y] were about the
size of White Ibises, but of
a dark color. I suspect that 
they may have been Glossy 
Ibises, indeed I know not
what else to suggest: certainly
they were not Ducks - their flight
was swifter than any other birds,
except Ibises.
1878 Cambridge Mass.
July 27 (Saturday) Have spent
the month so far at home, 
occupying most of my time
with work in doors. My lameness
hangs on most persistently
Have tried treatment with elec-
tricity under Dr. J. Putman but
it only seemed to make
matters worse.
  For the last three days the
linden tree in front of my window 
has been filled with birds. Among
them are two Mniotilta varia
two Seth. [sic.] [Setophaga] ruticilla and a
number of Dend. [Dendroica] aestiva.
A Wood pewee has his favourite 
perch on a dead limb over
the piazza and his mate
has just hatched out her
young in their nest in the 
linden at the left of the 
front gateway. Humming birds
are coming among the flowers