Molothrus pecoris
MASS. (Middlesex County) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1876.
(Oct. 19 [October 19, 1876]) In the P.M. took a drive over through the
Estabrook road with the young ladies going
by their invitation, in a stable team.
Jim [James C. Melvin] & H. Buttrick [Humphrey Buttrick] came back from the
Cape today. They shot Tuesday & Wednesday
and bagged 25 quail & 4 grouse. The first
day they started 5 bevies, the second 3 [bevies]
Friday
Oct. 20 [October 20, 1876] Clear with very hazy atmosphere, & very warm
for the season. Did not go out at all
to day. In P.M. had the horses harnessed
and took a short drive, getting around to
"Fairy land" pond at sunset. Saw a large
flock of Molothrus pecoris sitting strung along
a fence by the road side. Some of the
males had still considerable patches of
brownish slate in their plumage.
Saturday
Oct. 21 [October 21, 1876] Cloudy and warm. Drove down to Camb. [Cambridge]
in the forenoon getting to the house by dinner
time.
Sunday
Oct. 22 [October 22, 1876] Cloudy with thick fog. Drove up to Concord
in P.M. getting there by 6 P.M. About
three miles outside the town a small 
bevy of quail flew over the road past
the horse's head and pitched down all
together among some low alders. They had
evidently flown in from their evening feed
and although I have always known that
they followed this method still I was never
the less pleased to actually witness the
procedure.