Spvrich, Mass. 42 1874 Nov. 20 giving it both barrels of dust shot wounded it slightly in the wing. It flew perhaps so yds. and lit. Approaching the place I came suddenly upon it crouched among the beach grass and as it saw me it turned its head and opened its bill amazingly. I stood for several minutes admiring the beauty of its rich plumage when R. [illegible] up and struck a blow at its head with his canvas but missed when it rose with some difficulty and I again fired both barrels missing them this time. It however went but a short distance and again lit and flashing it over more I killed it. It is decidedly the finest [illegible] that I have seen. Saw then large flocks of Bermuda Gans, and several hundred [illegible], species unrecognised. At 1 th. storm which had threatened all the morning broke upon us and we started for town in a pouring rain and against a strong tide. Reached Cambridge by 7 P.M. thoroughly soaked. One of the principles which I have sketched had the crop filled entirely with large black spiders. B. J. Goodale started his trip to day at Abington Mass. and killed three of them; two which I saw in the fish row very large birds and quite fat. Melvin started 6 cock on the 8th and I on th 10th just, the last I have made,