Middlery Co., Mass. 25 1874 mood and repeatedly chased on another about lashing the water with their wings. I found this crop literally crammed with large "hog" acorns which when the bird was shaken produced a rattling sound audible at some distance. Here I also saw a water beetle of the largest size clinging to the tops of some grasses and endeavouring vainly to take wing. I think this species is the author of many of the large ripples that are seen at the surface of ponds on a calm evening. Total bag woodcock 2 - wood duck 2 Oct. 23 Clear and cool with E. wind. Took the first train to Concord when I met him at the depot by appointment. Drove up to Acton where we tied and commenced our beat. By noon we had bagged 3 cock 2 green & 1 quail. Then drew back to town and down to the foot of the great meadows when we started 3 mile 2 of which was shot. There we proceeded to the corner of the Virginia road when W. started a bay of 8 quail which occupied our attention till dark. His bag was 2 green 1 cock 1 mile & 3 quail. Mine 1 green 2 cock 2 quail & 1 mile. Thus for the first time I killed all the Mass. game birds in one day. Your wood ducks were started on an old dry bird was very small size. The bag of quail found in Acton was marked