Trip from Boston to Portland by
steamboat. Somateria mollissima-
Larus Hutchinsii
1876.
April 10 [April 10, 1876] Clear and a fine day with rather high
N.W. [northwest] wind. Left Boston on the steamer
New Brunswick at 8 A.M taking
passage for St John N.B. [Saint John, New Brunswick] We passed
a very pleasant day, Merriam, Wilson
(from Chicago) Stone & myself making up
the party. Capt. Winchester, Mr. Graham
(clerk) and J. Taylor engineer made
us very comfortable and afforded us
every opportunity for having a pleasant
time. We began to see ducks shortly
after leaving Boston harbor. At Thatcher
island saw the first old squaws, at
Boone is. [Boon Island] saw the first eiders and indeed
the first I ever saw alive. Seven of
them, three males and four females passed
quite near the boat, the coloring of the
drakes being especially distinctive &
easily recognized. Away
outside but few birds were seen, an
occasional L. agentatus [Larus argentatus], or a duck
scurrying swiftly along close to the 
water being the only aves noted. I saw
a very large black fish off Chelsea beach
a hughe lazy fellow rolling up out of
water leisurely and spouting to the height
of six or eight feet. As we rounded Cape
Elisabith [Cape Elizabeth] coming into Portland harbor
I saw my first Larus glaucus an indiv [individual]
in the immature plumage [delete]which has[/delete]
known as L. Hutchinsii [Larus Hutchinsii] I also thought
I saw a black guillemot flying at a 
distance but may have been mistaken.
Left Portland at 7 P.M. with Mr. Andrew Taylor
added to our pleasant circle. Saw some fair
phosphorescence in the evening