Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1899.
October
[margin]Birds seen
or heard in 
our garden.[/margin]
  Spinus tristis: Five present on the 5th & 25th, one seen on the
22nd & 31st, call note heard on the 12th.
  Junco hyemalis: One heard by me on the 5th W.B.
  Zonotrichia albicollis: For several years past I have cultivated
a rather large patch of prince's feather (Polygonum orientale). The 
seeds of this plant ripen in October and attract many kinds 
of birds as well as, unfortunately, rats and mice. The White-throats
are exceedingly fond of these seeds and during the present
month from one or two to a dozen birds might be found daily 
feasting on them in company with the still more numerous
House Sparrows. The male White-throats sang rather freely &
at all hours but usually in subdued and some what broken
tones. Mr Deane's list of their varying numbers is as follows:
Oct 5: 2; Oct 10: heard; Oct  11: 12 W.B.; Oct 12: 8; Oct 13: 5; Oct 14: heard; Oct 16: 1; Oct 17: 1; Oct 18: heard; Oct 19: 1*; Oct 20: 3; Oct 21: 2; Oct 22: 3; Oct 23: 3 or 4; Oct 24: 1
Oct 25: 3; Oct 26: 3; Oct 27: 2; Oct 28: heard; Oct 29: heard; Oct 30: heard; Oct 31: 1
  Corvus americanus: 10 (1) 11 (3) 14 (heard) 23 (heard) 24 (4) 25 (heard) 27 (3) 28 (heard) 29 (heard) 31 (heard)
  Cyanocitta cristata : Heard screaming on the 12th,15th,16th,
19th & 29th.
  Sphyrapicus varius : One seen by me on the 4th, 5th, 10th, & 11th (W.B)
and one by Mr. Deane on the 13th., probably the same bird
on each occasion. I cannot recall noting this species in
our garden before for over thirty years. The bird which
visited us this autumn spent most of his time in the
large apple trees and did not, so far as I could
discover, sink any of his sap wells in my birches
or mountain ashes.
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