6
Middlesex Co. Mass.  [Middlesex County Massachusetts] 
1874
Sept. 26 [September 26, 1874] Clear and warm. Came down
from Concord this morning and spent 
the day in the house writing etc.
  Sept. 28 [September 28, 1874] Cloudy & warm. Rose early and took breakfast at
6, with Stone. Started immediately for the
swamps taking "Shot". On the way down
met the Nesbitt brothers who had seen a
snipe or two but had shot nothing. In the 
first swamp I had a double shot at
a brace of rails but missed both.
Next struck over towards Block island
shooting a bittern on the way. Here we
found signs of an enormous number
of snipe the meadow in some places 
being almost white with their droppings
but could start only two birds both
of which I shot. Coming home we
started another snipe which S. [Stone] fired at,
& shot a rail both firing.
Sept. 29 [September 29, 1874] Cloudy. Commenced raining about 10 &
poured for the rest of the day. Immediately
after breakfast took Shot and started
for the swamp. Bagged two rails &
a snipe in the first swamp then
struck over on to the large meadows
where I shot a teal as she sprang out of
a brook. I had seen her feeding and
making a careful stalk got within 
ten yards before she saw me. Falling
broken winged she evaded my dog by
the most skillful diving & I had to shoot