March 1874 Middlesex County, Mass. March 26 Ruthered one Walh prangies & meadow for the first time. The late severe frost has killed the sterling grass & the fields an as brown & bere as in winter. Have just learned that R. Nesbitt was ahead of me on the meadows this morning and flashed a single rifle on the small brook below Magnus's house. March 27 W. Woodman brought one d Zoa, allerting that he shot this morning in Victor's words: it was an curious pharrage. The under parts finely stratated like the rest before its first out; the dorsal aspect as an immation bird of a year growth. I think that under some abnormal condition I had failed to overt at least the under portions of its plumage, and may very probably have found the winter down as it is much too early in the season to effect any straggles of the migration. " 28 Had a new fall of at least 10 inches this morning but it cannot diggeep rapidly as the ground is soft and moist. " 31 Cloudy and very chilly & cold. The ground is again bare. Drove out to Brooklin after breakfast & sent A. Smith by appointment. Having taken out