1879 Boston Harbor
Jan. [January] 24 rose from the shallows
near a point. They filled a half-
acre of air in their flight and
there must have been at least
five hundred in that one flock.
There was no mistaking their
vigorous upward spring as they
started from the shallow water and
as they turned in their flight the
light whitish under lining of a thousand
wings flashed for a moment in the
sunlight. They were all of this
species that were seen during the
day. Upon our return we shot
and secured an immature Podiceps
grusingena [sic] [grisegena] holbolle [holboelli] i; a tame stupid
bird that allowed us to run
the tug within thirty yards before
taking to diving. We also bagged
a[n] [delete]immature[/delete] pair of Sheldrake
(Mergus serrator) - an immature
male and an adult female.
This last species was however
1879 Boston Harbor
Jan. [January] 24 in most cases shy
enough to ensure its safety, tho['] not
nearly so shy as the Whistlers.
We saw a single pair only of Coots 
both immature White wings (Oedernia
fusca) Gulls were exceedingly numer-
ous but very shy. About one per
cent of the individuals seen were
Black backs (L. [Larus] marinus) the 
others all being L. [Larus] agentatus.
No Jaegers, Kittiwakes or other
species were observed. We were
told that a Snowy Owl has been
regularly seen during the winter
upon Spectacle Island. No
Snow Buntings or other small 
birds were observed. Crows
(C. [Corvus] americanus were very numerous
upon some of the island[?s] sitting
upon the points in company with
the Gulls or feeding along the
beaches. We reached Boston at 4 P.M.
after a most enjoyable day.