1873-01-07 Trustee Committee on Birds Report, 1831.035.003

Jan 7^th 1873

The committee in charge of the Birds of Mt Auburn have to report that the water fowl belonging to the Cemetery have generally thrived during the season. With the exception of the death of one of the oldest pair of European Swans, we have no casualty to report - The pair of Trumpe ter swans, purchased from [?] a year since have grown both in size and in beauty and are now large and handsome. the large variety of jet black ducks purchased of Mr Austin prove quite an acquisition to the grounds and have quintupled in numbers. We have now on hand five Swans, two white Muscovy ducks, fifty one small white ducks, and fourteen of the black variety, in all seventy=-two water fowl.

Our committee regret to have to add to this report, that we fear the attempt

we have made to introduce the Blackcap Warbler of Europe into our grounds is likely to prove a failure. After a few weeks of apparent good health, after their long sea voyage, and when to all appearances they were in a thriving condition, suddenly and without any assignable cause, an epidemic seemed to break out, in the season of their first moult which has taken off about two thirds of our flock of thirty. It now seems very doubtful whether enough will be [?] next May, to give much grounds for hoping they will prove enough to found a reproducing colony.

T. M. Brewer

Birds & Waterfowl Report of Committee Jany 7, 1873 (v=184) Accepted & ordered to be filed