1892
Oct. 18
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord.- Cloudy with occasional gleams of sunshine.
Warm with light S. W. wind.
  Spent the day with Melvin shooting over our northern
grounds beginning with the birches near Bateman's Pond
and then walking from Farrar's hill to the Parker lot.
Started nine Woodcock, one on Farrar's hill, two in
Melvin's run, four near Woodcock hole, one in small
birches to the south of the "hole", and one south of
Hadley's run. All were in birches or mixed birches &
alders or birches & pines on high ground. About half
were females. Most of the Woodcock seen to-day "topped"
the birches in the old fashioned way & few flew over
100 yds the first rise. Several were on grounds where M.
found nothing on the 15th. All whistled sharply and
flew strongly and few if any ran before the dogs.
In nearly every instance [delete]an abundance of[/delete] fresh droppings
were found in abundance where each bird had lain.
[margin]Woodcock[/margin]

  Partridges are evidently numerous this autumn. Melvin
& Robbins started 26 on the 15th and M.[Melvin] & I to-day
saw at least 12 different birds. In one place in
an old lane four rose together and a fifth was
flushed not 100 yards further on. In another place
we started three together. Most of these were very wild
rising nearly or quite out of shot and flying long
distances. We found nearly all in Woodcock cover.
[margin]Ruffed Grouse[/margin]

  We both shot very badly M.[Melvin] firing thirteen times for
2 Woodcock I eleven times for 1 Woodcock. My dog
Don gave out completely early in the afternoon.