Indoor plumbing was introduced into the United States in the 1830s, initially in wealthy homes, and later, middle-class houses. Many did not have water taps and toilets until at least the 1880s—nonetheless, lead pipes were already identified as a source of lead...

The first bird Tom and I saw for the Christmas Bird Count this year was a bedraggled Red-tailed Hawk, hunched over at the top of a large tree off County 9. It looked miserable in the rain. Its head feathers were wet and ruffled. The Red-tailed Hawk is one of the most...