58 1872 April 16-22 Middlesex County, Mass. Stragglers can have arrived as yet. A Woodcock was started from the street at the lower end of Dunway Market Boston this morning by one of the Tremont Club. Apr. 16 B. Dean started 13 Snipe, 11 of them at Belmont. " 17 From at 4:30 and started over to Medford with the Varlot Brothers to a field reported full of Snipe. Brand them all gone but four or five which were too shy to be shot. Then after trying in vain to force a Virginia Rail to fly, because probably it was in a small isolated bird watch worth also the cover over struck over to the Fresh Pond marshes: here B.B. Varlot and I got up two Snipe and I killed them both. Then he went home and I struck up to Belmont where I saw a Mr. Thayer start a dozen Snipe at a price rise: these are followed about all the forenoon and shot all but one. I killed 4, Thayer 5 and B.Dean 1. Dart made two very nice shots. I had two good double shots but only killed a single bird each time. The Snipe were very wild although the day was as warm & fine as possible. Thanks to whom at first night I took a great dislike, was so ungentlemanly as to pick up and retain one of my wounded birds. All then birds must have perished in the heavy rain storm of Tuesday till, as there were only two seen with by Thayer Monday. Saw also on the shadow tree Boston Sportsman Boily and Martin. The front is not yet all out in the marshes. " 22 Got my new York's G. loader to day and was very much pleased with its beauty & finish. About must made four targets & fired at shot