The Natural History of Selborne

Rover springs several pheasants, & some coveys of partridges.

Several wet, floated fields are now sown, that must have missed their wheat-crop, & have lain ’till spring, had not this fine dry season drained them, & rendered them fit for sowing.

Red-wings are late this autumn.  Perhaps the vintage was late this year in Germany; so that these birds were detained by the grapes, which they did not wish to exchange for our hips & haws.  Red-wings do much damage in vineyards, when the grapes are ripe.  My tall hedges, & the hanging woods, do not shew their usual beautiful tints & colours: the reason is because the foliage was so much torn & shattered by the rain & tempests.

Bror. & Sister Benj. left us.

Rover springs several pheasants in Harteley-wood.  We find many large coveys of partridges.

Men pull up turnips, & stack them.  My balsoms in pots, that have been in bloom four months, now begin to fade.

Bror. & Sister Benj. came.

Prodigious damage appears to be done by the late tempests, all over the kingdom; & in many places abroad.

Men sow wheat in good order at Temple & Wick-hill.  The hop-planters of this parish returned from Wey-hill fair with chearful faces, & full purses; having sold a large crop of hops for a good rice.  The hops of Kent were blown away by the storms, after the crop of this country was gathered in.

The news papers mention vast floods about the country; & that much damage has been done by high tides, & tempestuous winds.