[Middlesex Co., Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1874. Oct. 8- 1874 [October 8, 1874]
Shot pointed as steadily as a woodcock.
Striking into the large meadows Shot
came to a most beautiful point but
before we ever got within range two snipe
rose wild & went off unshot at. As
the dog still held hit point I hurried
up just in time to knock over a third
bird which got up in front of him.
Further on we started three snipe
(two of them marked down birds) and
I bagged one of them which B. [Barstow] started
& wounded slightly. On the way back
we went through the lower swamps
again & I bagged 1 rail & S. [Stone] & B. another,
between them. Total W. B. [William Brewster] 3 snipe & 4 rails
S. & B. 1 rail & 8 birds. The snipe
were all very wild and flew extremely
fast. Passed a half hour or so sitting
on the margin of Pout pond & admiring
its beauties. Saw only one duck an A.obscur [Anas obscura]
  Oct. 9 [October 9, 1874] Clear and a fine day with W. [west] wind.
Started alone for the swamps at 9.30
taking Dart, as Shot has injured one of
his eyes slightly. Beat the upper meadows
first but saw only a brace of rail both
of which I bagged. On the way back
started and shot a coot (Fulica [Fulica americana]) and
also put up three snipe all of which
rose out of distance: marking down one 
of them I followed him and catching
sight of him over a bush had a fine
opportunity of watch him unobserved.
He was sitting upright on a little mud