Middlesex Co., Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875. March 2nd 1875
March 2 [March 2, 1875]
and the whole company were actively
engaged in breaking open the cedar
berries for the seeds contained therein,
the Pinicolas after a while left the
flock and lighting on a deadly nightshade
vine commenced operating on its bright
scarlet fruit turning each one over
in their bills until the seeds were
forced out and secured. While thus
engaged I got within a few feet of
them and had a fine chance to
watch their motions. About 30 robins
were feeding upon the asparagus bed
but no Ampelis were observed, indeed
I have seen none for a long time.
Heard several Spiz. monticola [Spizella monticola] singing
and came across a little company
of Jucos feeding among some weeds,
the males all keeping up that conversational
twitter and liquid undertone chucking
peculiar to this season of their gregarious
habits. Save a few small flocks of
Plectrophanes but they were not as numerous
as I had expected to find them. I think
the major part of the Pinocolas have 
left us and I am informed by 
a letter from N.C. Brown that such
is also the case at Portland Me [Portland, Maine]
a few straggling companies of
Aegiothus were flying about and
I shot two of them on a long flying
shot. Killed also a fine adult [male]
Carpodacus [Carpodacus purpureus] and got back to
the house by 12 N. seeing another
grosbeak on the way.