Middlesex Co., Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1874.
Oct. 27 [October 27, 1874]
hour or so now without success Dart
struck the track of the large bevy
behind Cottons and roading them
out into the open drew to a noble
point just on the crest of a little
hill. Though the cover underneath was 
good (thick matted weeds) the birds got
up rather wild and only one was
shot which all three of us unfortunately 
fired at together. I being off to one side
got in only one barrel. Following them 
into the brush Charlie [Charlie Carter] go nearly all 
the shots and killed 3 birds, I shot 
another grouse which C. drove over 
my head. It was apparently utterly
exhausted by its long flight as it lit
in a little oak tree immediately after 
my shooting at it on wing, when I
killed it sitting. Charlie also flushed 
a woodcock which taking an extraordinary
long flight passed over us & was missed
by B. [Barstow] The quail were very wild and lay
but poorly which I have always noticed
is the case on dark rainy days or in 
falling snow. I forgot to note under Oct
23rd that a cock which we started in 
a small clump of birches adjoining
a potato field had been feeding all 
over said field as evinced by numerous
chalk marks & borings: on such a season
as this when all the birds without
exception are found on high dry
ground this fact is of especial interest
Heard Curv. Am. [Curvirostra americana] also Picus villosus in our garden this 
morning. Juncos and sparrows getting scarce