272
Concord, Mass.
1898
October 11
  Clear with strong S.W. wind.
  To Ball's Hill for the day, sailing down in 
the early morning.
  As I was passing the head of Beaver Dam Rapid
I saw two Coots (Fulica) swimming in the lagoon
on the right. They discovered me almost as soon
as I did them and at once paddled into
the pickerel weed. I went in after them but
could not see either of them. When I hoisted
my sail, however, one of them started from
the weeds very near me and flew off down
river, returning, just as I reached the middle
of the rapids, and circling around me over
the meadow finally alighting near the head
of the lagoon again. It flew every feet with
its legs stretched out behind. 
[margin]Coots[/margin]
  Saw very few small birds to-day. A pair
of Black Ducks passed high over Ball's Hill &
I started three Partridges in the woods on
the W. Bedford house opposite the cabin.
Gilbert says that at least forty or fifty
shots were fired on the Snipe grounds early
this morning. Six or eight more were fired
them after I reached the cabin