Middlesex Co., Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875.
Feb. 18 [February 18, 1875] like it very rapid and abounding in 
ectatic [ecstatic] feeling, but in variety and compass
it much excelled, and with all due
allowance for the romantic charm of
novelty, I think it must be considered
an even finer performance. Many of its
passages were quite undistinguishable from
those of its better known analogues, but
at times it burst out in a perfect abandon
of wild sweet harmony quite beyond the
powers of description. Whether this was
really the finished and characteristic song,
of the love season or not, I have no
means at present of knowing, but
judging from analogy ("and analogy
is often deceptive" as Darwin says) I
should be certainly inclined to consider
it so. Came home by way of Fresh
pond where a half frozen fisherman
showed me among his other captures
the first white perch I ever examined.
It is not at all rare in that body of
water but has always persistently
eluded me. Saw also C. tristis [Chrysomitris tristis] & A. 
lineria [Aegiothus lineria]. Robins were everywhere
abundant and wishing for a 
specimen or two I shot down four
in five shots as they flew by me,
the miss being the first attempt when
as so often happens I "got behind him"
Fired both barrels at a fine adult B. lineatis [Buteo lineatus]
which passed me at long range and
wounded him very badly as [?]
by his subsequent flight and numerous
large feathers which came floating back to me on the
wind.