Quail shooting. Night call of
MASS. (Middlesex Co.) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts] the hermit thrush. Seiurus Ludovic. [Seiurus ludovicianus]
1875. Bark of the gray squirrel.
(Oct. 14) [October 14, 1875] up all around me and I just
managed to get in a single shell
and pull on one of the last as
he disappeared among the alders.
Feathers came floating back on
the still air and I felt convinced
that my aim had been good
but this bird - if killed - "Shot"
was unable to find. I afterwards
flushed another bird that had
remained behind but being
in an awkward position I fired
without "getting on to him" &
missed clean. I now turned my
attention to the ducks and
getting a good position lay
at the pond till dark but
nothing came in. The sunset
was however if possible more lovely
even than that of last evening.
In addition to the chipmunks, a gray
squirrel (S. Carolin.) [Sciurus carolinensis] called incessantly
from the tall pine, and a winter
wren (T. hyemalis) [Troglodytes hyemalis] burst out 
several times into full song: this is the first 
time I ever heard the bird sing in
Mass. [Massachusetts]. Just after sundown a hermit
thrush uttered in a low tone the
night call of the species, as he sat on
an alder near me: instantly it was
answered by others all around the pond
until the little amphitheater fairly echoed
with their cries. Saw distinctly a Seiurus
Ludovic. [Seiurus ludovicianus] and noted other on the 11th & 13th:
Very late for Mass. [Massachusetts]. Spent the night with
Jim [James C. Melvin] & came home the next morning.
[margin]Quail 2[/margin]