January 17 + 

Went with L⁠⸺ out catapult shooting. While walking down the main road saw a Goldfinch, but very indistinctly⁠—it might not have been one. Had some wonderful shots at a tree creeper in the hedge about a foot away from me. While near a stream, L⁠⸺ spotted what he thought to be some Wild Duck and brought one down, hitting it right in the head. He is a splendid shot. We discovered on examining it that it was not Wild Duck at all but an ordinary tame Wild Duck⁠—a hen. We ran away, and tonight L⁠⸺ tells me he saw the Farmer enter the poulterer’s shop with the bird in his hand. + 