Ipswich, Mass. [Ipswich, Massachusetts]
1874
Nov. 24 [November 24, 1874] but rather less harsh and loud.
I found P. nivalis [Plectrophenax nivalis] in large flocks &
so excessively shy that it was only
by careful stalking that I could
get a shot. As the sun was setting
wild geese suddenly appeared from
seawards in immense numbers.
Flocks of hundreds with set wings 
sailed about in circles and many 
alighted for a few moments on
the bare pastures but the place
not proving to their liking all
soon rose high in air and resumed
their journey Southward. As many
as 500 were in sight at once and
the gabble and chattering they kept up
was incessant. I took 6 P. nivalis [Plectrophenax nivalis]
and 3 E. cornuta [Eremophila cornuta], and also bought
an im. [immature] Graculus dilophus from a 
man who had just shot it on
the top of Eagle hill as it came flying
over him. Reaching the town by
dark my owl attracted a disagreeable
amount of attention and I was subjected
to a most persistent ordeal of cross
questioning by the inhabitants among
whom was the reporter of the Ipswich
Chronicle who took my name and 
affirmed that he intended publishing
the account of the capture in
his paper. Yesterday we had a 
very heavy storm of snow succeeded 
by rain and hundreds of geese
are reported to have been found
in the woods in an exhausted condition