Lucid shooting - 1875 Nov. 5 Clear still and a fine Nov. day. Started immediately after breakfast with Stone and got Charles to drive us up into Prospect St. Belmont, when he left us at about 9 o'clock. Had barely left the road when we heard a quail whistle in the distance). Although equipped mainly for collecting I had taken the precaution to slip about a half a dozen No. 8's in my pocket and having shot with as we immediately followed up the sound and soon came upon the boy in a little hollow among the bricks. About 12 birds got up and I fired both barrels without success (I had taken out with me Melius autward little 24 inch br. lds) None of the birds went one 100 yds. before dropping along the edge of a little meadow and following them I fired 4 shots killing 3 quail. Stone got some five or six shots & killed one bird cutting his head clean off at 10 paces. Here we heard a grown drum eight or ten times in succession and going to the spot I got a hard shot and missed both barrels. Coming back I had another good chance at a grown and missed this also with both barrels being wound to the gun. Leave this boy we had proceeded not one 1/4 of a mile when a small boy of eight birds rose the further side of a wall and firing my remaining shell (loaded 4 drs X 10z no 6 shot) I killed a fine female bird at 40 paces. Following