The Natural History of Selborne

On this day there was a tempst of thunder & lightening at Lyndon in the County of Rutland, which was followed by a rain that lasted 24 hours.  The rain that fell was 1 in 40 h.

The Flycatcher, which was not seen ’till the 18th, has got a nest and four eggs.

Mr White of Newton fetches water from Newton pond to put into his tank.

My winter lettuces all run-off to seed. The Culture of Virgil’s vines corresponds very exactly with the modern management of hops. I might instance in the perpetual diggings, & hoeings, in the tying to the stakes & poles, in pruning of the superfluous shoots &c.: but lately I have observed a new circumstance, which was Farmer Spencer harrowing the alleys between the rows of hops with a small triangular harrow, drawn by one horse, & guided by two handles. This occurrence brought to my mid the following passage:

“.. ipsa/
Flectere lucantis inter vineta juvencos.”        Second Georgic.

Saint-foin & fiery lilly begin to blow.

Fly-catcher begins to make a nest in my vine.

A thunder-storm at London that damaged houses.

Sheared my white mongrel dog rover, & made us of his white hair in plaster for the ceilings.  His coat weighted four ounces.  The N.E. wind makes Rover shrink.  A black bird has made a nest in my barn on some poles that lie on a scaffold.

Fern-owl chatters: it comes early this year.

In some districts chafers swarm: I see none at Selborne.  Cotton blows from the willows, & fills the air: with this substance some birds line their nests.  Mr Burbey’s brown owl, which was a great washer, was drowned at last in a tub where there was too much water.