1891 
May 12 
(no 2)
Mass.
West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard. - ruts and rising 
but slightly more than just high enough to clear 
the top of the oaks, followed the slope of the land 
upon the top of the ridge and was quickly out 
of sight. Its flight was swift yet heavy. Its wings 
looked long and were moved more slowly than those 
of a Partridge lashing the air as it were with 
long, deep strokes each of which could be distinctly 
followed by the eye. For the first 30 yds. the 
wing-beats were continuous, then followed alternate 
flapping and sailing until the bird disappeared 
over the ridge. The flight reminded me most of 
a Gannet's. It suggested momentum. The white 
under wing-coverts flashed at each upward 
stroke. The bird looked nearly twice the size of a 
Partridge. It carried the tail wide spread. 
scarcely was it out of sight than another (its 
mate, probably, although both appeared of the same 
size) started about 30 yds. further on, also from 
the cart-path and about 50 yds. ahead of us (we had 
walked a little way). It flew like the 
first and took precisely the same direction. 
We must have gone nearly  half-a-mile still 
following the path, before the third and last 
Heath Hen was seen. I had stopped to examine 
a large, dark object in the middle of the path 
and after satisfying myself that it was nothing 
but a clod with some grass attached was in 
the act of lowering my glass when the bird 
sprang from the horse path not four feet 
from the object at which I had been looking