Concord, Massachusetts.
1891.
Oct. 31
(No 2)
Concord & Carlisle. - I had no difficulty in slipping
my hand forward and seizing it. As I picked it up
it uttered a peculiar low growling sound (gna-a-a)
which I think I have previously heard from a female
Woodcock with young. It was a small male bird.
[margin]A wounded Woodcock utters a low cry when caught.[/margin]
  Returning to the wagon I drove to the foot of Fifty
Acre Meadow and directing George to take the horse
around to the deserted house I crossed through
the woods and fields on foot. In some mixed woods
Don found & pointed a Partridge which rose wild
without giving me a shot. In a field beyond these
woods I saw three Bluebirds and a few Robins.
  In Wadleigh's run I started three more Woodcock.
Don "drew" about for ten or fifteen minutes on the 
scent of the first and I tramped over the ground
in every direction without starting it but at length
it rose from under the dogs nose when my back was
turned and stole away unshot at. It went only a 
few rods and dropped in a path. I sent on the
dog when the bird rose a second time and flew
directly over my head. After it had passed me
and just as it was disappearing behind a pine
I shot at it but missed. I did not find this
bird again
  As I was looking for it Don suddenly came
to a beautiful point on the edge of a cluster
of pitch pines. I went in ahead of him and
started two Woodcock at nearly the same
moment.  They gave me a good chance for
a double shot but I missed the first
clearly and got only one feather from the