First snow-flakes Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Tuesday, Nov. 20, 1917 [November 20, 1917] Wea [Weather]
Blue Jay in full song Fair.
Partly sunny, mostly cloudy, with light,
chill northerly wind. A few snow flakes
falling at 8 A.M. Surface of ground frozen.
  In Garden: 2 Gold crests [Golden-crowned Kinglet] in willow front of
Museum; a flock of 6 Chickadees (never more
than 2 noted heretofore this month) in the old
lilacs; 2 Blue Jays; half a dozen H. Sparrows [House Sparrows].
  One of the Jays sang almost ceaselessly 
for half an hour (10-10.30 A.M.) despite
the chill air & cloudy skies. He seemed
to be perched somewhere near the skylight
on Museum roof over my study, whence
his odd medley of gurgling, chuckling &
sibilant notes came faintly but distinctly
to my ear as I sat writing at the desk.
It is unusual, I believe, for a Jay to
sing thus in late autumn & he is not
overgiven to it even in spring.
  Spent day in Museum writing letters.
C. [Caroline Brewster] still confined to her chamber. She
there received Miss Holman who, with
Miss Harkness, came to lunch with E.R.S. [Elizabeth R. Simmons]
& me. Alice Bartlett called at 5 &
Giles Taintor at 8.30 P.M.

Cambridge.
Ther [Thermometer] Wednesday, Nov. 21, 1917 [November 21, 1917] Wea [Weather]
Dull.
A gray day, dark cloudy for most part with
fine, drizzling rain in early morning & again
at evening. Mild but chilly. Little or no wind.
  In Garden: Chickadees, Gold-crests [Golden-crowned Kinglets], Jays & a
Downy [Downy Woodpecker], heard; 4 White-throated Sparrows seen.
All these were noted close about Museum
about 9 A.M. It was precisely the sort
of day when such small birds are most
likely to appear there at this season.
  I wrote letters and worked at a 
vast accumulation of second class mail,
during both morning & afternoon.
C. [Caroline Brewster] had a comfortable day. Our "We Dine"
met, by Jackson's invitation, at the
Harvard Club this evening. I did not 
join them, not feeling up to it &
having in mind the results of my 
attendance at Nuttall Club meeting last
Monday evening which gave me a 
sleepless night with no little neuralgia
pain. Somehow I do not seem to be
able to undertake anything of the kind
this autumn without suffering for it.