MASS. (Middlesex Co.) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1876.
Wenesday [Wednesday]
Oct. 11 [October 11, 1876] Clear with very cold wind. Spent the forenoon
in my room stuffing birds. Jim. [James C. Melvin] came
up at 1 P.M. and we started off together
immediately after dinner driving up to
"Farrar's" where we beat for an hour or
more and started one woodcock & a grouse
neither of which was shot at. Next drove
around to Robbin's mills where Jim
killed a woodcock & a grouse and
I [delete]another[/delete] a single grouse. This last
bird I shot under rather singular conditions.
Launce roaded on an evidently strong
scent for some distance and finally
pointed staunchly. As I came up behind
him a grouse rose some 30 yds. ahead
and flirting up a few yds. dropped again
to the ground like a rail & commenced
running when I shot it on the ground.
Upon picking it up i found it a mere
skeleton though in fine plumage. No
external mark of injury could be
found upon it anywhere.
Thursday
Oct. 12 [October 12, 1876] Clear and very cold, ice forming to the
thickness of window glass & the ground
freezing quite hard. Started off after breakfast
with W. Buttrick [William Buttrick] and drove down to Hall's
fully expecting to start a lot of woodcock
but we were completely disappointed. I
hunted several hours in vain finding
nothing but a grouse which "Launce"
pointed in fine style & at which i missed
a rather hard shot. After I had
got tired out however & returned to