Turdus migratorius
Middlesex Co., Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875. Jan. 23- 1985 [January 23, 1875]
Jan. 23 scale. We also saw large numbers
of robins and at one place at
least 30 flying through the oak
woods in a close body. They were
very shy and silent. On the way
back just at sunset a Shrike
came gliding out of the woods ahead
in fierce pursuit of a Goldfinch (C.trist [Chrysomitris tristis])
but though I watched them through
numerous doubling until out of sight
I did not see the sequel. The Cyanura
was killed under rather peculiar cir-
cumstances: it darted into a small
thick pine at our approached [approach], from
which it was impossible to dislodge it,
and quite as impossible to get a
good enough sight for even a quick shot,
as it moved its position a few feet every
time I got my eye on it, reminding
me most forcibly of the gray squirrel
under similar circumstances. At length
however I shot it as it sat not ten
yards from the muzzle of the gun.
In an alder swamp we found
the tracks of a bevy of 5 quail with
the closely following ones of a man
and dog & further on "o miserable dictu"
the impression in the snow, surrounded
by blood and feathers where one had
met his death at the hand of some
poaching pot hunter. The snow is
now about 9 inches on the level
and the sleighing very firm and
fine. The long continuance of the present
"cold snap" is something quite unparalleled