1876. MASS. (Middlesex Co.) Monday Sept. 27 Clear but windy and cool, I drove down to Cambridge with Jim on the afternoon of the 24th [Sunday] and stopped over night coming up to Concord Monday morning. Tuesday [Sept. 27/ it rained in torrents so that I did not get out at all. This morning Dan and I started down river in my new boat which I purchased yesterday of James Harley for $14. Taking lunch we spent the whole day going down as far as Carlisle bridge. On the way down I shot a greebe (P. podiceps) paddling up to it rather easily, I was in the ordinary fall plumage but I am very sure that it was adult as the testichs were very large (O) for a bird of the year. Going ashore below the bridge we started a grouse several times and I fired one shot at it. Dash heard strong signs that he scented its track but did not point. Beat the drup meadow pretty thoroughly but saw not a bird of any kind. On the way back went into a little piece of corn below Shute's bridge and put up a grouse twice firing three times at him & killing the last shot. Saw two Bireus Bird, during the day one of them an adult, &. Saw also a number of Har. Rufus, some Mimus Car. and An Accipiter fuscus. The maples near the river are perfectly gorgeous with brilliant coloring though those on the higher land had not turned much yet. The river meadows were very barren of bird life not even Sparrows being abundant. In the evening took a moonlight ride with Jim.