1891.
Oct. 29
(No 3)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Carlisle & Acton. - Again B. & I fired exactly together.
The bird staggered but kept on a little way finally
falling. The ground where these Woodcock lay was
sprinkled freely with fresh "chalkings".
[margin]Woodcock shooting[/margin]
  Returning to the wagon we lunched and then
drove to Braybrook's. The Woodcock ground proved
blank but in some alders on the hillside above
Don came to a stiff point. I posted Buttrick
outside the cover and then entered it to put 
out the bird. It proved to be a fine cock
Partridge which, instead of flying, walked slowly
off through the alders shaking its ruff and
making the squirrel "chitter". Seeing that it
was not going to take wing I shot it sitting.
One of its wings proved to be injured slightly
 - by just what was not apparent.
  This was the last game bird that we saw to-day
although we afterwards beat the covers south of
the road and an extensive tract of alders &
birches beyond, besides, after driving a mile or 
more, the famous old Woodcock ground on the 
western side of [?] hill which I have 
never visited before.
  I saw a number of Fox Sparrows to-day but
fewer Juncos, Tree Sparrows and Harriet Thrushes
than during my last hunt. Robins have also
decreased markedly of late. I saw a small
flock (eight or ten) of Hound Larks come into
a field near the stock farm and alight.
[margin]Small birds[/margin]