Middlesex Co., Mass. [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875
May 7 [May 7, 1875] a monosyllabic scream of alarm
Arrivals Hirundo lunifrons, Rallus
Virginianus
  May 8 [May 8, 1875] Cloudy with frequent drizzling rain.
Took the 6.15 train for Concord where
I met Jim by appointment and
started down river with him in his 
boat. We went ashore at the head
of the meadows putting up six
snipe and killing one of them.
The others flew out of sight and
after beating about a while longer
we gave up in disgust as it
was beginning to rain and with
W. Buttrick who had joined us
with Jim's old dog, started up river
in the boat reaching Sted. Buttricks
by 11. After eating lunch, the prospect
brightening a little we started again,
striking across through the woods
for Dam meadow. Passing through
a piece of high oaks I happened to
glance up and immediately espied
eight wild pigeons sitting motionless
within five rods of us but as I
raised my gun they were off like
arrows and I missed with the single
barrel that I pulled on them.
Following on we started them
again, and firing four barrels
at long range got down one, a
fine [female] which I shall mount.
On Dam meadow found no snipe