The Natural History of Selborne

Went to London with Bro: & sister J. W.

Grasshopper-lark chirps.  Alauda minima locustae voce stridet.

Field-crickets have opened their holes: they are full-grown, but have only the rudiments of wings, & are probably in their larva state; yet they certainly eat, as appears by their dung.  It seems likely that they die every winter, leaving eggs behind them.  About Septemr all the mouths of their holes are obliterated.  They do not cry ’til about the middle of May.  Their noise is shrill & loud.  This is by no means a common insect.  They probably cast another coat before their wings are perfect, & they capable of shrilling.

Regulus non cristatus medius sings: a pretty plaintive note: some call it a joyous note: it begins with an high note & runs down.  The titlark, a sweet songster, not only sings flying in its descent, & on trees; but also on the ground, as it walks about feeding in pastures.

Blackcap sings.  The sedge-bird a delicate polyglott.

Ground very wet.  Nightingale sings.

Bank martin appears.  House martin appears.  Many swallows.  Grass grows very fast.  Ring-ouzels are first seen on their spring migration.  They are very late this year.

Redstart returns. Most soft growing weather.  Thomas begins to mow the walks.

Titlark begins to whilst.  Wind changing with every shower: soft growing weather.

Goose-berry buds in leaf.  Anemone nemorosa.  Cardamine pratensis.