Vireo Philadelphicus
MASS. (Middlesex Co.) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
Sept 7 - 1875
1875
Sept. 7 [September 7, 1875] few minutes I killed another also in an
isolated willow tree. Next struck through
the maple swamp but saw nothing
worthy of note with the exception perhaps
of a Har. rufus [Harporhynchus rufus] that was uttering his
smacking note among the bushes. The
swamps are very lovely now, - full of
wildflowers and the lights & shadows
dancing over the ferns in the little green
glades. Coming home a piece of good
fortune awaited me. In a large willow
tree at the foot of the lane I heard
a vireo scold: stopping and looking up
I [delete]soon[/delete] spied a Vireo olivaceus, and
very soon another, his mate perhaps,
hopped out in sight. While watching them
I saw an adjoining twig shake and looking
closely spied still a third vireo - a smaller
one - so small indeed that I at once 
suspected its identity and shot it quickly
[delete]once[/delete]. Picking it up I found to my
delight that it was a bird new to our
state fauna - my long sought little friend,
Vireo Philadelphicus. On dissection it
proved a [female] and a bird of this year. Arrived
at the house by 8 A.M. and with Stone
spent the forenoon skinning & mounting
birds. D. striata [Dendroica striata] was abundant everywhere
this morning. C. Hart Merriam [Clinton Hart Merriam] arrived
this noon from Wood's hole and will
stay over to-morrow with me.
Woodcock are very scarce everywhere
Ruffed grouse are, as usual in Sept [September],
not to be found. J.C. Melvin started only 
one in an all days tramp last week. Only a
few Icterus Baltimore remain.