Squirrel eating ice. Cambridge
Ther [thermometer] Monday, Jan. 14, 1918 [January 14, 1918] Wea [Weather]
10 [degrees], 20 [degrees] Total absence of bird life. Fair
Sun shining somewhat dimly
through overhead mists or haze.
Clouds gathering in late P.M.
Moderately cold. Little or no wind.
  Garden birds. Not one seen or
heard. Such apparent total absence
is quite without precedent here, at
any season, within my knowledge
and recollection.
  I did see a Gray Squirrel sitting 
perched on the Museum roof holding
between his fore paws - as all
Squirrels hold nuts - a thick cake 
of ice two or more inches square
from which he was biting off
good-sized fragments & eating them
with apparent relish.
  Worked all day on Henslows
Sparrow [Henslow's sparrow] article at length certainly 
almost ready for publication.
  Mrs. Place telephoned this noon that
[Mrs.] Spencer, Henry H's [Henry W. Henshaw] sister, died at
Wellesley yesterday morning. I have
just sent night letter to Henry urging
him to remain in W. where he is
now ill with grippe.

Cambridge Will Thayer calls on us.
Ther [Thermometer] Tuesday, Jan. 15, 1918 [January 15, 1918] Wea [Weather]
40 [degrees] max [maximum] Stormy
Dark cloudy. Snowing fitfully
in forenoon. Much of what fell
then was washed away but a
following rain which lasted through
the afternoon. Altogether a dismal day.
  Garden birds. 2 Chickadees,
3 Starlings & a solitary Jay.
What can have become of the
House Sparrows? I see none now.
  Spent most of forenoon in
Museum working on Henslow
Sparrow article. finished it
just before lunch, after which
Gilbert [Robert A. Gilbert] began copying it with
his type writer. I, meanwhile
was at work on the "Blameless
Cat" article.
  Will Thayer, just returned
from Russia, surprized & delighted
us by a brief call in late P.M.
C. [Caroline Brewster] saw him in her room, I in lower 
hall with E.R.S. [Elizabeth R. Simmons]. He looked very
careworn. What he said about Russia
most interesting.