Middlesex Co. Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1874
start or find him. Taking a station
for quaks at dusk I shot a very fine
wood drake as he flew by me &
scarcely had I taken him from the
dogs mouth when three teal swept
past & I managed to set in my only
remaining charge, (No9), at long range.
Only one bird was hit but he so badly
that he lowered to some little height
& drifted off into the darkness. Saw
one quak & heard several snipe.
  Oct. 1 [October 1, 1874]
Clear cool and windy. Went into Boston
early and stood guard in the office
for several hours having a most exciting
time of it. Came out at 3.30 &
getting on my shooting toggery
started for the swamps which I 
found almost alive with sportsmen.
Met among others R. Nesbitt who told
me that early that morning he
started a flock of at least 50 snipe.
They rose wild at some 300 yards &
flew out of sight. I beat about the 
swamps till sunset without getting 
a shot at anything, when I
met Stone & his brother, who had killed
two rails. We all took stations near
the track to wait for ducks. Saw 
one wood & one black duck. The 
former gave Stone a fine shot 
which he missed. Next a snipe
came over my head flying with
almost inconceivable velocity & I