The Natural History of Selborne

Apis longicornis swarms in my walk down Baker’s hill, & bores the ground full of holes, both in the grass, & brick-walk. Peat begins to be brought in. On this day there was a great thunder-storm in London. Probably much rain fell this day at some distance to the S.W. While the thunder was about, the stone pavement in some parts of the entry & kitchen sweated & stood in drops of water. The farmers say, that the chafers, which abound in some parts, fall off the hedges & the trees on the sheeps backs, where being entangled in the wooll they die, & being blown by flies, fill the sheep with maggots. The epidemic disorder rages in an alarming manner in our fleet. Sr John L. Ross has left the N. sea, & is returned to the downs, not being able to continue his cruize on account of the general sickness of his crews.