"Midway County, Mass. 59 1872 April 24-27 Unusually well; also shot a musk rat, its first victim. April 24 In the afternoon drove up to Belmont hatched and tried for Snipe. Put up four and killed two just at dusk, bringing three shots killing with them first from my new gun. " 25 Started at 6 with Charlie Curtis and drove up to Wayland; stopping first at Belmont when we put up three Snipe but did not kill any. Arrived there about 11 and left the horse tied in the woods. Put up about twelve birds altogether of which I bagged nine and Charlie one; Charlie was somewhat afflicted by a sore headache which forced him to kneel off and return to the wagon carly in the afternoon. My own gun shot beautifully killing 7 Snipe in 14 shots. The birds were found along a brook in a tussuckey meadow when they lay like sals. Dart did not maintain still points but passed up many bird by putting them up. Got home by 7 P.M. The day was warm with a light wind. Put up two Snipe in an old corn field when the ground was soft & wet. Drove one bird up into an apple orchard on a high hill when he lay till flushed, under a small Crash pile. Saw several Black ducks and was much interested with watching them courting or even more drakes chasing a female high up in the air, slowly twisting and circling about, frequently coming down from a great height with set wings: they bred her in numbers. Apr. 27 Went up on the Belmont meadows this morning and put up three Snipe four and one