Quail shooting - 1875
MASS. (Middlesex Co.) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
Nov. 5 [November 5, 1875] Clear still and a fine Nov. day. Started
immediately after breakfast with Stone
and got Charles to drive us up into
Prospect St. Belmt. [Belmont] where he left us at
about 9 o'clock. Had scarcely left the road
when we heard a quail whistle in the
distance. Although equipped mainly for
collecting I had taken the precaution to
slip about a half a dozen No. 8's in 
my pocket and having Shot with
us we immediately followed up the
sound, and soon came upon the
bevy in a little hollow among the birches.
About 12 birds got up and I fired
both barrels without success (I had
taken out with me Melvin's awkward
little 24 inch br. ldr [breech loader]) None of the birds
went over 100 yds. before dropping along
the edge of a little meadow and following
them I fired 4 shots, killing 3 quail.
Stone got some five or six shots & killed
one bird, cutting his head cleanly off
at 10 paces. Here we heard a grouse
drum eight or ten times in succession
and going to the spot I got a hard
shot and missed both barrels. Coming
back I had another good chance at a
grouse and missed this also with both
barrels being unused to the gun. Leaving
this bevy we had proceeded not over
1/4 of a mile when a small bevy of eight
birds rose the further side of a wall
and firing my remaining shell
(loaded 4 dre. [dram equivalents] x 1 oz No 6 shot) I killed a 
fine female bird at 40 paces. Following