Mass. (Middlesex Co.) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875
Aug. 26 [August 26, 1875] crammed with the 'hoppers [grasshoppers]. At least 100
birds were at one-time feeding together
presenting a curious and interesting
appearance as they ran nimbly about,
and when the flock was headed toward
me [delete]for[/delete] the [delete]turf[/delete] bright green turf
seemed fairly alive with animated snow
flakes: those in the rear kept constantly
flying ahead and dropping in front
of their companions so that the flock
made rapid progress down the hillside
and reaching the foot all would
rise together ad after a few wheels
fly back to the summit and pitch
down again. During the afternoon I
did not see a single large bird of any 
description.
  Aug. 27 [August 27, 1875] After a sleepless night occasioned by
a grand hop in the dance hall under
my room where a band of 10 pieces
played till 3 A.M. I rose at 5.30
and dressing hurriedly went out on
the island again but finding no
birds of any account flying i returned
and took the 8 A.M. boat up to the 
city. While walking along the edge of
the flats I heard a single loud, harsh,
resonant cry almost like the honk of a
goose and looking up saw a flock of
about a dozen terns of large size flying
over high up. What they were I cannot
imagine as the note was an entirely
new one to me.