West Barnstable Mass. [West Barnstable, Massachusetts]
1874. Nov. 6- 1874 [November 6, 1874]
Nov. 6 [November 6, 1874] Clear and a lovely day with rather high
W. [west] wind. Buttrick & Melvin went out
before breakfast but did not fire a shot.
  We all started at about 8 taking
the Osterville route. At "the shop" heard
a quail whistle loudly and upon reaching
the place all the dogs came down
handsomely on the scent but after
roading it for some 200 yds they all
lost it and we had to give the birds
up. I think the birds scattered &
ran in all directions finally either
taking wing or flirting up into the
trees. We next struck the graveyard
ground where Charlie found a bevy
of 8 birds of which we killed 5. These
were not the same as those found on the 4th as
they were not more than two thirds
grouse. Here while forcing my way through
some stunted pine shrubs on a high
hill, I started a sparrow which I
at once recognized by its peculiar flight
as Cot. Henslowii [Coturniculus henslowii] and changing my
shells I flushed it agin and shot
it. It was a beautiful specimen in a fall
plumage new to me and proved on
dissection a [female]: the body was fairly cased
in fat. The fact of it occurrence in such
a locality & at so late a date must be one
of great interest. Shortly after this I lost
my companions and was separated
from them three or four hours. I at last
however was guided to them by their
firing at a small bevy of 10 quail which
Melvin started, and from which 2 birds