1878 Nantucket
Aug. [August.] 9. Friday. Clear and
a glorious day. Drove over to
the bathing beach in the 
forenoon and I took my
first bath. Numbers of Terns
were flying about on the 
sea but I identified only one
species. S. [Sterna] hirundo.
  Starting at about 4 P. M. we
drove over to South Shore taking
our tea with us and
eating it on the beach.
Saw very few birds and
none of them especially
worthy of mention. King
birds, Grackles and several species
of Sparrows are among the most 
characteristic species on the 
island. This morning I heard 
a Parus atricapillus in the
tree in front of my window. It
is the only one I have ever seen here.
Upon reaching the house learned by
letter of Carry's grandmother's death.
1878  Nantucket and
Cambridge
Aug. 10 Saturday. Clear and warm.
Decided last night to return to
Boston and see if we could be of
any use to the family, so started
this morning on the 7.15 boat
leaving all our things behind
us. Got to Boston by 1.45
and found that Mrs. Vose's 
funeral had been yesterday.
After taking dinner at #3 West
Cedar St. I went out to
Cambridge leaving C. to
accompany her mother to
Milton to spend to-morrow.
Found all well at the
house; the aspect of
things very little changed,
cicadas a trifle more noisy
But their best efforts eclipsed
by the swarms of English
Sparrows that quarrelled among
the trees in the garden. Intended 
to drive to Concord in the evening but
as it looked like rain I gave it up.