6 Middlesex Co. Mass. 1874 Sept. 26 Clear and warm. Came down from Concord this morning and spent the day in the house writing D.C. Sept. 28 Cloudy & warm. Rose early & took breakfast at 6 with S[ton]. Started immediately for the swamp taking "Shot". On the way down met the Vesbitt brothers who had seen a snipe or two but shot nothing. In the first swamp I had a double shot at a brace of rails but missed both. Next struck one towards Block Island shooting a bittern in the way. Places we found "signs" of an enormous number of snipes the mud in some places being almost white with their droppings but could start only two birds out of which I shot. Coming home we started another snipe Chick S. fired at, I shot a rail both firing. Sept. 29 Cloudy. Commenced fishing about 10 & fanned for the rest of the day. Immediately after breakfast took Shot and started for the swamp. Bagged two rails & a snipe in the first swamp then struck one on to the large meadows where I shot a teal as she sprang out of a brick. I had seen her feeding and making a careful stalk got within ten yards before she saw me. Calling broken winged she made my dog by the most skillful diving & I had to do