Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Thursday, Feb. 21, 1918 [February 21, 1918] Wea [Weather]
5 [degrees], 10 [degrees] Fine
Wintry conditions back again.
Intense cold, accompanied by violent
N.W. [northwest] wind and but slightly
tempered by bright sunshine from
a cloudless sky.
  Garden birds: I noted only one,
a Chickadee visiting the suet
that hangs beside my study window.
  Work on Umbagog M.S. [manuscript] occupied
me throughout entire day. As
heretofore it was confined to
revising matter composed for the
Introduction several years ago.
Some of this reads well enough
but much has to be considerably
changed & perhaps rewritten.
  Our evening readings have
been devoted of late to Melville's
"Typee" a delightful story only
brought to my attention recently,
by Roland Thaxter.

Cambridge
Ther [Thermometer] Friday, Feb. 22, 1918 [February 22, 1918] Wea [Weather]
0 [degrees], 16 [degrees]  Dull
Dark cloudy and very chilly as
well as cold yet without much wind.
Light snow fall in P.M. - scarce
whitening the ground when night
closed in.
  Garden birds. A Northern Shrike,
2 Blue Jays & a Flicker. Perhaps
I should add to this list a
House Sparrow, for the Shrike was
busily employed devouring one
when Percy drew my attention
to him. He was then low down
in a syringa blush [bush] growing close
to our kitchen door when Percy & 
I approached him within three yards
or less. I then saw that he was a
rather dull-plumaged Butcher bird.
Shortly after this he flew off into the
Jungle or beyond with the Sparrow
in his bill. It is the only one that
has been seen hereabouts since Feb. 8 [February 8, 1918].
  Spent most of day in Museum
writing letters & cheques for bills.