Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Saturday, Dec. 9, 1916 [December 9, 1916] Wea [Weather] Dull
Sparrow hawk pursues Flicker.

Sun shining feebly on hoar-frost-coated
ground in early morn but soon obscured by
gathering clouds from which descended a fine
drizzling rain still later in the gloomy day.

  From an eastern-facing window of our house
I noticed, about noon, a Flicker in the top of
an elm. A few seconds later it dashed off
hurriedly, closely pursued from the very start
by a female Sparrow hawk who, however, failed 
to overtake it, doubtless because not caring to
do so, and after chasing it across the lawn
wheeled abruptly and perched on the very
topmost twig of the big horse chestnut that
stands at the corner of Brattle & Sparks
Streets, remaining there for several minutes.
  Besides those two birds I noted, during
the day, only two others, a Jay & a 
Downy [Downy Woodpecker], both heard calling in the Jungle.

  Worked all day on the bird notes made
at Concord last spring, practically
finishing the enlarged transcript of them.
  Reading aloud & Victrola music in hall this evening.

Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Sunday, Dec. 10, 1916 [December 10, 1916] Wea [Weather]
Fine

  Clear & cool with light westerly wind.
Thin sheets of white ice glinting in the 
sunlight where yesterdays rainfall had
collected in shallow pools.

  In Garden 4 chickadees (one at suet) a Goldcrest [Golden-crowned kinglet]
(heard), 3 [male] Juncos, a Downy [Downy Woodpecker] (in lindens)
3 Crows (on wing).

  Wrote letters in Museum after breakfast
& again in late afternoon. Leaving the house
at noon I walked up Brattle Street to
Elmwood & meeting Mr. Scudder there turned
back with him & we kept on together as far
as Mason Street whence I returned alone.
Additions to old Nichols house about completed.
It has been painted brown with white trimmings
chimney and front fence which has a new gate
& gate posts set in from sidewalk & very pleasing.
  Mrs. Sawyer & Miss Allyn [Alice Allyn] dined with us.
I escorted the former to her house at 
3 P.M.
  E.R.S. [Elizabeth R. Simmons] read aloud to C. [Caroline Brewster] & me after supper
& I played some hymns on Victrola.