The Natural History of Selborne

It appears from good information that sometimes the osprey falco haliaetus, Linn: is known to hawk the great pond at Frinsham.  It darts down with great violence on a fish, so as to plunge itself quite under water.  The man at the ale-house adjoining shot one as it was devouring its prey on the handle of a plough.  This man shot also a sea-pie, ostralegus on the banks of his pond.

Fritillaria imperialis meleagris.

Prunus spinosa. The black-thorn begins to blow. This tree usually blossoms while cold N.E. winds blow: so that the harsh rugged weather obtaining at this season is called by the country people black-thorn winter.

I am informed that three swallows appeared over a mill-pond at Bramshot on Sunday, March 28.  They were seen over the paper-mill pond by Mr Pym.

Apricot blossoms seem mostly cut off: peaches & nectarines are well-blown, & look well.  Sowed a box of polyanth-seed, & a bed of Celeri.