Middlesex Co., Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875 
March 16 [March 16, 1875] gone before their time into that spirit
world which is to be the final resting
place of all mortal beings. After
gossiping pleasantly awhile we parted
and I got back by dark having 
shot nothing save a pair of redpolls.
I find the crimson of their foreheads
[delete]is[/delete] fast intensifying with the 
advance of the season. The males
now sing at all times of the day
and the species is as plentifully represented
here as ever.
  March 22 [March 22, 1875] The last two days of last week (19th [?] 20th)
rose cold and stormy about 6 inches of
snow falling Saturday. This morning the
ther. stood @ 5 [degrees] at sunrise but by 9 A.M.
it was above 20 [degrees] but the snow did
not thaw at all during the day except
where directly exposed to the sun's powerful
rays. Off immediately after breakfast
taking my usual winter route through
the farm. Saw nothing of importance
until I [delete]approached[/delete] reached the cedar ridge when
pausing a moment to listen before
I stepped out through the trees I suddenly
caught sight of a large hawk approaching,
and standing perfectly motionless,
the next instant he was within
ten yards of me and fell a victim
to my heavy charge of dust shot at
not over fifteen paces. It proved an
immature [female] Buteo lineatus, a bird
of the year I think; the ovaries were