D. palmarum [Dendroica palmarum] et Nyc. Gardenii [Nyctiardea gardeni]
Habits of Scol. ferrugineus [Scolecophagus ferrugineus]
Middlesex Co., Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875 Apr. 12 - 1875 [April 12, 1875]
mate with affecting solicitude came
dashing down at me and snapped
his bill angrily within a foot or
two of my head until he too,
"o miserable dictu", met the like
fate. Saw also a pair of Aegiothus
linaria (shot one of them) and two
Mel. palustris [Melospiza palustris] (also one shot). Met Nat.
Nesbitt who had started a pair of
woodcock and a bevy of 10 quail
in Belmont. Arrivals were:
Nyc. Gardinii [Nyctiardea gardeni], 5; (seen last night
by R. Dean) Dend. palmarum [Dendroica palmarum] 1 [male].
The flock of Scol. ferrugineus [Scolecophagus ferrugineus] was
a very large one at least 150 individuals.
They fed among the brush piles and
alder thickets along the edge of the
swamp hopping in and out among
the fallen tops and debris like so many
mice. All were on the ground at once,
no sentinels being posted. Upon being
alarmed the whole body would rise
up into the neighboring trees and
set up a most infernal clatter,
every bird apparently making as much
noise as he could. On the ground they
were invariably silent, a low chuck
of recognition when two met being
at most the only sound uttered.
While feeding they were quite tame,
in the tree tops the reverse. A large
flock of Bernicla Canadensis seen
flying overhead yesterday (R. Deane [Ruthven Deane])
C. [Caroline Brewster] & self noted a flock at Concord 
on the 8th inst. [April 8, 1875]