Middlesex Co., Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
Woodcock Shooting 
Oct. 15- 1874 [October 15, 1874]
Oct. 15 [October 15, 1874] Clear and a perfect Autumn day, sharp
frost at sunrise and warm mellow atmos-
phere at noon. Having received an
invitation yesterday from my friend Melvin
to try the woodcock at Concord I took
the 6.15 train this morning and evening
at 6. found M. waiting for me at the
station with a team. We started immediately
for Acton where we commenced our
beat taking in by noon all that ground,
Melvins run, Parker lot etc. At its
finish we had put up 9 cock & bagged
7. Starting for town we drove rapidly for
the East ground eating lunch by the way
to save time. Reaching Dam meadow
by 2 P.M. we put up the horse in a
shed and struck into the cove at once,
and after some most glorious sport
we finished at Hall's just as the
sun was setting. During the afternoon
we put up 12 birds & killed 10. Making
a total as follows. Birds put up 21 - Bag
of W.B. [William Brewster] 10 cock (1 shot by both) 1 grouse & 1 rabbit. Bag
of J.C.M. [James C. Melvin] 9 cock (1 shot by both) total bag
17 woodcock, 1 grouse, 1 rabbit. The day
being a fine one for scent both dogs
worked finely. Shot put up only 1
bird without pointing and twice
I left him on a bird and made a
long circuit in order to get a better shot
when the bird rose. Double birds were
spring three times during the day but
in neither instance were both killed.
We both shot unusually well getting