Trip to Martha's Vineyard.
1891 
May 8 
(no 4)
Mass. 
Vineyard Haven to W. Tisbury. We saw five Heath Hens 
pass directly over the building flying above 
the trees. He pointed out a farm house 
surrounded by open fields and several hundred 
yards from the scrub where five of these birds 
resorted regularly through the past winter to 
feed with the farmer's hens. Towards spring 
three of these suddenly ceased coming & were 
thought to have been shot. "The law protects 
them but a good many are shot on the sky 
each year". He has never seen any to the west
of W. Tisbury although he goes seven miles beyond 
this place on each daily trip.
[margin]Heath Hens[/margin]
  He saw Gambel's Quail (which were introduced 
last spring) regularly and frequently during 
the summer and autumn but has not observed 
one since December and fears that all have 
perished although the winter was mild with 
no deep snows. 
[margin]Gambel's Quail[/margin]
  As we approached W. Tisbury Meadow Larks began to 
be heard and Robins to be seen. While our driver was 
waiting at the post office for the mails to be 
changed we noted Chimney Swifts (heard), Chipping 
Sparrows, Field Sparrows and Song Sparrows.
  At West Tisbury we saw three Crow blackbirds 
in pairs near a house and a silent Parula in 
willows over a pond where a few Hylas were 
peeping in doubtful tones. Only one Marsh Hawk 
was observed during the drive from Vineyard Haven.
  We went to Mrs. Adams' where I dined last 
year and were soon [?] comfortably.