101

Concord, Mass.
1916
Aug. 30
to
Nov. 4

Pheasant shooting.

miss but at which the 20 gauge gun was, I am bound to
confess, discharged more than once in vain. Nor could it 
always be brought to shoulder before the big birds had
passed almost beyond its range for they flew quite as
swiftly as Ruffed Grouse although rarely seeming to do so.
Some of those encountered among the corn were too
cool-headed and resourceful to risk exposing themselves
in the manner just described but instead sneaked
off on foot between the rows, into tangled thickets
beyond, where it would have been futile to follow
them with any hope of obtaining a fair shot.
Although Pheasants retiring thus were almost never
seen I could usually trace their no less rapid than
stealthy progress through the corn by hearing the pitter-
patter of their feet on its fallen husks, or fainter & more
rustling sounds made by their bodies brushing past crisp,