Middlesex Co., Mass. 1 Sept. 21- 1874 Sept. 21 Clear & a fine day. In A.M. Mr. Maynard called and stopped to dinner with me. He saw a Minnow Jay at Newtville last morning (Sept. 20); had a good fight at it & from its actions is confident that it was not an escaped cage bird. In P.M. went into town and saw J.C. Melvin; he has found woodcock quite plenty all through the summer & up to present date has seldom failed to put up from 10 to 12 for day. Since Sept. 6 when he saw the last bird in a corn field they have been altogether on fall ground principally birch hillsides. As cock has been feeding here everywhen also he is at a loss to imagine where these have come from as they were not here in July. Sept. 22 Clear & a most lovely day. Started for the swamps with Stone at 9 A.M. and shot them all carefully for Ch. asilis, finding only two both of which I shot. Small birds of all kinds now very common especially D. striata which absolutely swarmd everywhere. I shot a Surdas Alicia and a Sy.y. Indica Am. Sitta Canadensis has been very abundant now and I saw one of to day. Rails are absolutely swarming in the swamps: Every shot that we find shielded angry cries from all parts of their watery retreats. Saw a flock yet