April 1874 1874 April 15 Middlesex County, Mass. - Belmont. Dear S. wind very warm, the 60°. After breakfast drove up to the Belmont meadows for a try at the Snipe. Ward beaten but a short distance when “Shot” came to a point near the brook; seeing a Robin a few rods ahead of him I paid with attention to his warning & was walking by him when a Snipe son directly in front of his nose & I knocked it over fifteen paces or so off. Afterwards I found abundance of signs in the hollow of Bostings ploughed field but as no birds were there, concluded they had fed them during the night. I moved on towards day back or perhaps removed but a short listen into the large Tuscotcy meadows. The occurrence of finding a surprising how of fresh signs & no bird this is of constant occurrence in Spring Shooting. I think however that we have had so many flight of birds yet, the meadows are still hard underneath in places although the warmth of the last two days has started the grass a little. Last night I heard the larks for the first time & to day Blue Jay was in full fill: usually he is several weeks later than his cousin. In the Swamp heard members of M. Yachester on the meadows a few P. Caranna, 7 on Sparks St. a singl. S. Socialis. B. Dan strata Rand. Johnsonum this morning. I also heard P. gannurus brigadum.