Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Friday, Dec. 28, 1917 [December 29, 1917] Wea [Weather]
Dull
Cloudy & not cold but chilly. Snow
falling intermittently mostly melting
as it struck but whitening our walks
at nightfall when the temperature
fell rapidly. Rivers & ponds everywhere
encased in solid ice. Water-fowl having
a hard time along coast tis said.
Brainard reports seeing upwards of fifty
wholly white or whitish Gulls, presumably
L. glaucus [Larus glaucus] et leucopterus [Larus leucopterus], in Gloucester
Harbor, a few days ago. C.A. Robbins
writes that surface feeding Ducks at
Onset are being "gunned to death"
when they come in to feed at the
few unfrozen places in tidal creeks & marshes.
  Garden birds 6 Chickadees coming
repeatedly to suet by my window;
8 Starlings in Parkman apple tree, returning
to it moreover after our stuffed cat had
been placed therein; 3 Crows in Jungle;
a dozen or more House Sparrows.
  Spent day in Museum working on
short article relating to use of stuffed cat.
Eyes giving much trouble. Have had to cease
reading of newspaper of late.
Warner Taylor of Madison, Wis. [Madison, Wisconsin] called in A.M.
Usual evening reading in hall. C. [Caroline Brewster] there.

Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Saturday, Dec. 29, 1917 [December 29, 1917] Wea [Weather]
5 [degrees], 12 [degrees] Dull
Bitterly cold & intensely chilly with
darkly over clouded sky but not much
wind. Scattered snow flakes now & then.
Sometimes they came think & fast but never
long enough to more than whiten sidewalks.
  Garden birds. 3 Chickadees visiting
suet by my window, at short intervals;
8 Starlings eating Parkman's apples until
driven away by my pulling a cord
attached to top of tree; 10 or 12
House Sparrow. White-throat [White-throated Sparrow] not
seen since 26th. I fear he may
have perished.
  Worked mostly on cheques for bills.
It kept me busy through much of
forenoon and entire afternoon.
Usual evening reading by E. [Elizabeth R. Simmons]  C. [Caroline Brewster] did
not come down to it.
Walter Deane has been rather dangerously
ill since Dec. 18, with acute
indigestion, but he is fast recovering
now & able to see his friends again.