Point Lepraux N.B. [Point Lepreau, New Brunswick]
1876. Colymbus septentrionalis
Monday
April 17 [April 17, 1876] Clear with S. [south] wind. The South winds
here by the way are the coldest winds
of all and correspond with our Mass. [Massachusetts]
E. [east] wind. There was a steady flight
of coot and brant all the forenoon
but after dinner time only a very
few scattering fowl passed. Went out
in the boat with Stone [William Stone] after breakfast
and lay off the ledge all the 
forenoon. Fired a number of shots
and knocked over 5 coot between
us but got only two into the boat 
a [male] & [female] O. perspicillata [Oidemia perspicillata] The male
is a most beautiful bird when freshly
killed the coloring of the bill being a
vivid blood red shading into carmine, 
white and a large blotch of glossy black.
The feet are very deep carmine and black.
The coot were for the most part shy
of the boat but occasionally a flock
came within long range. They are
extremely tough and we heard the shot
strike many that did not fall. Others
dropped their [?] at the report &
leaving the flock dropped off on the 
water but when we went for them they
would dive so persistently that we generally
failed to get them. Saw a few Colymbus 
septentrionalis flying; they look much 
smaller than the loon & the neck appears
very slender. Mr. Thomas shot a C. Arcticus [Colymbus arcticus]
some years ago. After dinner went down
on the rocks and I knocked over a 
sheldrake at about 100 yds, but failed 
to get it as it was only wing broken.
Skinned birds the rest of the P.M.