Cambridge, Mass.
1902
Dec. 1
(No 2)
taken either in Fresh Pond or the clay pit at
sometime during to-day is, however, nearly certain
for it reached me in perfectly fresh condition and
Walter says it looks exactly like the Loon he saw
yesterday while Mahoney is not the kind of young 
man who would be likely to indulge in distant
shooting trips. It would not be difficult for such a
fellow to fire a single shot at Fresh Pond just after
daybreak and to escape with his bird before the
depredation had attracted attention. Had he done this
he would of course have been likely to think it
imprudent to admit the fact. On the other hand
it is not impossible that he really killed the
Loon in the clay pit (which he says swarms with fish)
and with a rifle for the shot wounds may have
been inflicted by someone else although that seems
most unlikely. I bought the bird of him for 75 cents
and have sent it to Angell & Cash of Providence
for mounting. 
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