The Natural History of Selborne

Two swifts seen at Puttenham in Surrey.  Bank-martins on the heaths all the way to London.

Five long-legged plovers, charadrius himantopus, were shot at Frinsham-pond.  There were three brace in all.  These are the most rare of all British birds.  Their legs are marvellously long for the bulk of their bodies.  To be in proportion of weight for inches the legs of Flamingo should be more than 10 feet in length.

Opened the leaves of the Apricot-trees, & killed many hundreds of caterpillars which infest their foliage.  These insects would lay the tree bare.  They roll the leaves up in a kind of web.  N.B. By care & attention the leaves were saved this year.

Hail, stormy, strong wind. The wind broke-off the great elm in the churchyard short in two: the head of which injured the yew-tree. The garden is much damaged by the wind. Many tulips & other flowers are injured by the hail. The lighting on friday morning shivered the masts of the Terrible man of war in Portsmouth harbour. The field-crickets in the short Lithe have cast their skins, are much encreased in bulk, show their wings, being now arrived in *maturity*. ‘Til this alteration they are in their pupa-state, but are alert, & eat; yet cannot chirp, nor propagate their kind.

The caterpillars of some phalaenae attack the foliage of the apricots again.

Lathraea squammaria, in the Church-litten coppice near the bridge among the hasel-stems, is out of bloom.

Some young grass-hoppers appear: they are very minute.

Rain greatly wanted.  No spring corn comes up.  The dry weather has now lasted four months; from the 15th of Decemr 1778.  Apple-trees blow this year a full month soon than last year.  The hanger is pretty well in full leaf: last year not ’til May 15.  Musca meridiana.

Thunder-like clouds in the W. at break of day.  Nightingale sings in my outlet.  Black-cap sings.  Dark clouds to the W. & N.W.  Lightening.

Two cuckows appear in my outlet.  The mole-cricket jars.  The wry-neck appears, & pipes.