Concord, Mass.
1912.
Oct.17
[October 17, 1912]

9 Canada Geese in river opposite Ball's Hill.

  Clear and unseasonably warm with fresh S.W. [southwest] wind.
  At 3 P.M. Gilbert went to Ball's Hill, from the Farm, in
the automobile. On reaching the cabin he was surprised to
see almost opposite it, swimming in the river over towards the
further shore, a flock of 9 Canada Geese. When he passed them
within 100 yds [yards] in his noisy-puffing Cadillac car they merely
raised their heads and did not fly. Returning to the farm he told
me what he has seen. I started at once for Ball's Hill on foot
with H. W. Henshaw [Henry Wetherbee Henshaw] taking my 20 g. gun & some shells loaded 
with buck shot - the only heavy charges I could find. When we
reached the cabin the Geese were some 200 yds. below it
on the other side of the river feeding in a line close to the tall
rushes that fringe the shore. Under cover of these they might
probably have been stalked with ease but as I could not 
cross over without attracting their attention and as I further
shrank from wetting my moccasined feet in the marsh I