The Natural History of Selborne

Some of the little frogs from the ponds stroll quite up the hill: they seem to spread in all directions.

Bees are very quarrelsome, and stung me.

Second swarm of bees on the same bough of the balm of Gilead fir.  Turned the hay-cocks which are in a bad state.  Cherries delicate, Mr Grimm, my artist, came from London to take some of our finest views.

The bees that have not swarmed lie clustering round the mouths of the hives.  Took off the frames from the cucumrs: those under the hand-glasses begin to show fruit.  Hay lies in a bad state.

Field-crickets are pretty near silent; they begin their shilling cry about the middle of May.

Black-caps are great thieves among the cherries.  The flycatcher is a very harmless & honest bird, medling with nothing but insects.

The early brood of swallows are active & adroit, & able to procure their subsistence on the wing.  Fresh broods come forth daily.

Full moon.  Cherries begin to ripen, but are devoured by sparrows.  Began to cut my meadow-hay, a good crop, one 3rd more than last year.