A characteristic winter scene
Fe 1875 Feb. 18 - 1875 [February 18, 1875]
Feb. 18 in company with robins on the asparagus
bed just above Mr. J. Birds in Watertown: these
are the first here though a flock of 50 was
seen by C. J. Maynard in Newtonville on
the 10th inst. This morning I took
the car to Mt. Auburn and struck off
on to the farm for a forenoons tramp.
The day though cold was still and clear
and all the birds noticed were particularly
cheery and active. I first came across a small
company of Juncos and killed three at a
shot: the rusty rufous edging of the feathers
is about half worn off or to put it in a
nutshell the plumage is midway between
the autumnal and breeding stages. Several
of the males were singing in chorus as in April.
As I came up behind the cedar ridge a
perfect din of bird voices struck my ear
and passing cautiously through the trees
I looked down upon a most characteristic
assemblage of our winter birds. The sun
lay warmly in that sheltered little valley
forming a [delete]most[/delete] marked contrast with the
bleak wind swept hill top I had just
left. Sitting upon the apple trees were at
least 50 robins [delete]while[/delete] and fluttering over the
asparagus sprays were as many more
of the same species, while the air was
continually filled with individuals coming
and going. On the left under the cedars
was a rollicking merry band of tree
sparrows, and the occasional scream of 
a jay loud call of the flicker came
from the oak woods beyond. The robins
were very noisy, calling continually to