The Natural History of Selborne

The lightening beat down a chimney on the Barnet: no person was hurt.  Measles still about.

* Thro’ this month the Caprimulgi are busy every evening in catching the solstitial chafers which abound on chalky soils on the tops of hills.  These birds certainly do, as I suspected last year, take these insects with their feet, & pick them to pieces as they flie along, & so pouch them for their young.  Any person that has a quick eye may see them bend their heads downwards, & push out their short feet forwards as they pull their prey to pieces.  The chafer may also be discerned in their claws.  The serrated claw threfore on their longest toe is no doubt for the purpose of holding their prey.  This is the only insectivorous bird that I know which takes it’s prety flying with it’s feet.

Some wheat seems to be blighted.

Some hops much infested with aphides.

Wheat at Farnham £17-12-6 pr load.  Several fields of cone, or bearded wheat growing this year round the village: the bloom of this wheat is of a brimstone colour.  The bloom of some beardless wheat is purple: qu: what sort? The bloom of wheat in general is whitish.

Turnips begin to be hoed.  In general a good crop.  The young clover among the corn is fine this year.

Wheat is now at 17s pds. per load, & very little left in the kingdom.

A bunting, emberiza alba, sitting about on the bushes in the North field.  Probably has a nest there.  This is a very rare bird in this parish: a very common one in the open champain country.  I am not sure that I ever saw one before in Selborne.

Lound thunder shower.  Mrs Snooke of Ringmere near Lewes had a coach-horse killed by this tempest: the horse was at grass just before the house.

Finished stopping the vines: much bloom & much fruit set.  Finished cutting the tall hedges.

Ricked all my hay.  The st foin has lost all smell: the meadow-hay is most delicate.  A large crop.