Trip to Martha's Vineyard
1891
May 8
(No 3)
Mass.
Vineyard Haven to W. Tisbury. - about the birds and
mammals of the island, [delete]with[/delete] of which he seemed
to have a fairly intimate and accurate
knowledge. There are, he says, Skunks (indigenous)
in limited numbers, Foxes (introduced), Raccoons
(introduced), Rabbits (L. sylvaticus), Gray Squirrels
(introduced), Musk-rats, Meadow Mice, and
Moles. He has never seen or heard of Weasels
but two Minks were caught last winter & were
considered a great curiosity being the first that
had ever been seen. There are no Red Squirrels, Woodchucks,
Chipmunks or Deer on the island.
[margin]Mammals
of the island[/margin]
He said much about the Grouse ("Heth'ns"). They
have been numerous during the past winter when
he saw one or more every few days. On one
occasion he counted 16 in one flock and it
was a frequent occurrence to start four or five
together. He has never seen one within less than
three miles of Vineyard Haven. At this point
the brush plains begin and his birds are almost
invariably met with on these plains where the
oak scrub is from two to six feet high, although
he has seen a few in tall oaks. They are attracted
by grassy openings & fields of small size surrounded
by scrub. As a rule they rise as the stage gets 
near them but sometimes run across the road
and disappear in the scrub without taking wing.
Occasionally a bird will merely walk out of 
the wheel track & squat, allowing the stage
to pass it within a few feet without moving.
[margin]Heath Hens[/margin]
  While changing the mail at N. Tisbury, one evening last winter