Concord, Massachusetts,
1891.
Oct. 21
(No 4)
Carlisle. - and Robbins started six Woodcock,
firing six or seven shots at them but bagging
only one bird. I, meanwhile, had been perched
idly on a rock but after the shooting was
nearly over I joined them and we began to
hunt up the scattered birds. Don found one
making a superb point. I stepped in
ahead flushed the cock and missed a hard
brush shot as it whistled off. Melvin trod
up and missed another. Both crossed the
road and an open meadow beyond. We followed
and Don found a bird on the edge of a
swamp pointing it staunchly. After placing
Melvin and Robbins I stepped in and
put up the bird. Robbins and I fired 
together and the Woodcock came down
with a broken wing.
[margin]Woodcock shooting[/margin]
  It was now too dark to hunt longer
so we returned to the shed where George
was waiting for us with Charlie and
were soon on our way home. The high wind
had dried the roads, the horse stepped out
briskly and we bowled along at a
rapid pace reaching the Buttricks before
it was quite dark. I enjoy these rides
home immensely after the long day's 
tramps.
  Small birds were fairly numerous in
the roadside thickets to-day. I saw
one D. striata among them. Jays seem
to me to be scarce this season.
[margin]Small birds[/margin]