Middlesex Co., Mass. 17 MASS (MIDDLESEX CO.) 1874. Stay in the swamp till after dark for ducks but saw none. While sitting on a tussock watching the deepening shadows, a rail rose from distance off of its own accord and passed by one flying in the usual low way with dangling legs; I had supposed them acted differently at such times but now had chance to observe before. Large flocks of Scot. Ferruginous came in to roost at dusk. Numbers of ducks killed on the pond Monday. Oct. 14 Cloudy. Very cold last night thru at Dawn this morning standing at 28°. Started for the swamps at 6 taking Shot. Beat the upper meadows first when in company with a boy which I met I flushed 7 Snipe. They were quite wild but Shot did good work making a number of points. On the way down beat the brickyard swamps and put up 3 more snipe. Shot most wretchedly firing 16 shots & bagging only 3 snipe & a cost (Talcia) My companion killed 2 snipe. Took also an Am. Canadasius & 20 & Ag. Phoebeae in fall pl. Sparrows of all kinds have been troubled in numbers since yesterday & I saw also Anthus Landore Cis, Stellaris & Dugulas Calandra. Saw a Fulica (An surviving out in deep water on the pond, D. coronata very abundant this morning,