1891
May 12
(No 6)
Mass.
  West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard. and along its streets 
and outskirts. 
  The characteristic birds of the bush plains at this 
season are Field Sparrows, Brown Thrashers and 
towhees all of which breed here in astonishing numbers. 
A little later Maryland Yellow-throats and Prairie 
Warblers are also found in abundance. Grass Finches 
and Meadow Larks live all along its borders 
and occasionally within them and the songs 
of Robins, Oven Birds, Red-eyed Vireos and other tree 
loving species come faintly on the ear 
whenever the listener approaches the oak woods 
which bound the tract on its sides. 
  We reached the house in time for breakfast at 
7.30 and after a short rest and [?] set out again, 
this time on foot. Turning into a lane and passing 
through an orchard where a Red Start was 
singing we entered an extensive tract of comparatively 
tall oaks. the trees were leafless, the ground covered 
with dry leaves. It looked like winter here and 
the wind whistling through the branches was 
decidedly wintry. Only one bird was seen or 
heard in the4se woods - Mniotilta varia.
  Emerging into the open country we next traversed 
a pasture where we saw a few silent Towhees 
& Thrashers and crossing two narrow, sandy roads 
descended a slope to a small pond said to be 
swarming with trout and "frosted" with laurel 
signs warning trespassers that fishing was prohibited. 
This warning was evidently made light of by 
a Kingfisher who sat perched on a bush over