1878 [September 28 Smith Point] Nantucket
while there a superb Duck Hawk 
came sweeping over the sandhills
and circling higher and higher, drift-
ed out to sea to the Southward.
Terns were fishing in swarms over
the "rips" but we got no shots
at desirable species. Upon our
return I shot another Turdus aliciae 
within a few hundred yards of
where I discovered the first. This
one I saw rise & alight again & going
to the spot I actually stepped
over it as it lay hidden in the
short grass. This point seems to
be a general rende[z]vous for bird
[?]. It was fairly alive with
Savanna Sparrows to day. Upon our
return I shot a Cot. [Coturniculus] passerinus &
a Tit-lark. When near the town
we drove up within thirty two yds. [yards]
of a flock of Golden Plover as they
were bathing in the shore of a pond
& I killed four with one barrel: the
horse acted so badly that I could not use
[margin]the other one. The afternoon was one of the
most perfect I ever remember perfectly
still, with the air crisp and sparkling and
the sunshine delightfully warm and
mellow.[/margin]
1878 Nantucket
Sept. [September] 29 Sunday. Clear and
slightly warmer than yesterday[.]
Spent the forenoon and
the first half of the afternoon
in the house at work upon
the birds shot yesterday.
At 4 P. M. Mr. Stephens
brought "Nelly" around and
we took a drive of a few
miles along the Polpis road.
Saw a large number of Cot. [Coturniculus]
passerinus. They would
sometimes seem like mice in
the rut ahead for many rods.
Among some small pines
saw a Cat bird and
several Juncos. Saw also
at one time two adult male
Marsh Hawks beating about
over the hills. The country
is more uneven and picturesque 
along this road than elsewhere
where we have been. 