Late insect life, Bird remains
MASS. (Middlesex Co.) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
in crop of Buteo lineatus
1875
(Nov. 3) [November 3, 1875] many green things untouched 
by the frost, under the shelter of
the evergreen groves. On the cedar
ridge, especially in the warm nooks
were little clumps of bushes and
vines as green and fresh as in
Sept. and some of these little
spots were very lovely indeed the
effect reminding one of the
sensation experienced upon
entering a greenhouse in mid-
winter. The grass in the fields is
however still green everywhere.
As the sun reached the zenith and
the mercury rose to about 40 [degrees] I
was surprised to observe the abundance
of insect life, crawling about in
sheltered places, Diptera were most
numerously represented but I also
heard the faint notes of a few
grasshoppers, and saw two or three
of the common yellow field butterflies
flying about - and, most curious
sight of all, over the surface of
a pool which was entirely
encased in ice were hovering a
pair of red winged Neuroptera
joined together in sexual communication.
A very fine adlt [adult male] Buteo lineatus was shot
on the hill behind French's yesterday, by
A. Frazar. I dissected the bird and
found in its crop and stomach remains
of a [male] Ortyx Virgin. [Ortyx virginiana] a very small shrew
(Sorex) and a singular looking mole
which being headless I could not make out
This is the first time I've found bird remains in a Buteo