Concord, Mass.
1910
May 30
[May 30, 1910]
  Cloudy & cool with fresh E. [east] wind.
  At Ball's Hill a Water Thrush was singing near the cabin at
9 A.M. and a Night-hawk peeping somewhere in the distance about
3 P.M. These were the only north-bound migrants noted to-day.

A colony of breeding Partridges

  On May 8 I recorded in this journal the finding of a
Partridge's nest within a few yards of a large woodpile on the edge
of the opening behind Ball's Hill. A few days later Harry O. Adams,
our intelligent farm hand, reported finding what we both supposed was
the same nest since he said it was very near the woodpile. His
count of the eggs, however, was 11 whereas I had made the
number 12. Since then I have visited the nest a number of
times always finding the bird sitting until to-day. He has not
been there again until to-day. At 4.30 this afternoon I stumbled
on a hen Partridge with a brood of young on the crest of the
hill behind the cabins & not over 80 yards from the woodpile.
Meeting Harry a few minutes later I said "I think our Partridge has
hatched her eggs",  telling him what I had just seen. He suggested a
visit to the nest to make sure. As we approached the woodpile
he turned in to the right of it, I to the left. Instantly a dispute
arose as to just where the nest was each of us maintaining he was
headed straight for it. I knew its exact position to a foot & Harry
thought he did. I had difficulty to get him to look in my place
& when he saw the eggs (there were 11 not 12, & they looked very dark 
as if to hatch) his face expressed utter astonishment & mine, no
doubt, triumph. After looking keenly about him for a moment
he said with quiet assurance "Mr. Brewster that is not my
nest, let me show you mine." He then led me straight
past my nest to a distance of not over 30 or 35 yards where
by the side of a disused foot path on the edge of the swamp,