Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Wednesday, Jan. 16, 1918 [January 16, 1918] Wea [Weather]
20 [degrees], 26 [degrees] Interesting Flicker Fine
Cloudless & almost windless with
bright sunshine but frosty air.
  Garden birds. 2 Chickadees in
lilacs; a Jay in catalpa; a Starling 
in Parkman apple; a Flicker on
trunk of seckle pear tree which he
had evidently just begun to denude
of bark, after the usual practise of such
birds in winter. When I first noticed
him, however, he was clinging motionless,
as if absorbed in reverie, and remained
so for the next five minutes. His red
nuchal scarlet showed conspicuously as
a broad V-shaped patch yet was
really "concealing" because looking so like
an exposed spot of reddish inner bark.
  Spent day in Museum working
ceaselessly despite vile headache. Finished
Henslow Sparrow paper & sent it to Bangs.
Also copied "Blameless Cat" story
not as yet quite complete.
  Delightful evening in hall with every
member of family (including dogs) about
open fire. Usual Vic. [Victrola] music & reading aloud.
 
 Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Thursday, Jan. 17, 1918 [January 17, 1918] Wea [Weather]
17 [degrees], 28 [degrees] Dull
Dark cloudy and very chilly but
almost windless. Scattered snow-flakes
every now & then. Light fall of snow
(2 or 3 inches) last night.
  Garden birds. 2 Chickadees, a Flicker
and 8 Starlings (in Parkman apple tree).
The Flicker spent ten minutes or 
more on surface of snow beneath
apple tree picking up & eating fruit
that had fallen there. There seems
to be plenty of it still adhering to
the tree, however.
  My day mostly spent in Museum
working on "Blameless Cat" story,
thereby finished. C. [Caroline Brewster] & the rest heard it
read aloud & seemed to think it
entertaining. I shall offer it to
Chapman for "Bird Lore".
  C. went in town by motor this
forenoon to see Dr. Cheeney. He reports
her eyes no worse. Dr. Stevens thinks
her general condition much better. 
She was with us in lower hall this evening.
