The Natural History of Selborne

Grapes are delicate still; especially those that are not bagged in crape those that are, are shrivelled, & vapid.  *The great month for spring migration is April: tho’ the wryneck, one species of willow-wren, & the upland curlew are seen in March: in this month also the winter birds retire.  In Sept. most of the short-winged summer birds withdraw; & in Oct the wood-cock, redwing, & fieldfare return.  The hirundines are more irregular in their retreat; for the Swift disappears in the beginning of August: the rest of the Genus not ’til Oct.:  In Nov the wood-pigeons, & wild fowls return.  We have found in the parish of Selborne alone about 120 species of birds, which are more than half the number that belong to Great Britain in general; & more than half as many as Linnaeus can produce in the kingdom of Sweden.  Mr Pennant enumerates 227 species in Gr. Britain, & Linnaeus about 221 in his native country.