1893
May 28
Concord, Mass
  Cloudy with occasional intervals of pale sunshine. Cool
with strong NW  wind.
[margin]Ball's Hill[/margin]

  Spent most of the day in the house writing, but
late in the afternoon I launched the Stella Maris canoe
and paddled over to the Manse. A Least Flycatcher &[and]
several Robins in the orchard and a Gray-cheeked Thrush,
perched at first in one of the ash trees over the avenue
and afterwards flitting among the currant bushes in the
garden, were the only birds that attracted my attention.
The Cat Birds were absent from the lilac bushes and there
are no Phoebes in the old boat house this season. 
[margin]Birds about
the Old Manse[/margin]

  At 5.30 I started for Ball's Hill and reached the
cabin half-an-hour later. Running the canoe into
the lower landing under the maples I was about 
to step out when something hurtled past me from
behind (ie [that is] from the river) passing directly through
the thickest part of the [bunch?] of maples with a
crushing or swishing sound and plumped down into
the middle of the path that leads to the cabin. As
it stood erect with tail spread I took it for a
large Hawk but the next instant it made a short
quick run and I saw this it was a cock Partridge.
Landing I flushed it directly in front of the 
cabin over which it flew and then disappeared 
over the crest of the ridge behind. It was doubtless
the bird which I have heard of late drumming on
the Bedford shore. 
[margin]Partridge[/margin]