The Natural History of Selborne

Bull-finches make sad havoc among the buds of my cherry, & apricot trees they also destroy the buds of the goos-berries, & honey-suckles!  [Later note:] These birds were not observed at the time, nor do they seem to abound.  It appeared afterward, that this damage was done by a flight of gross-beaks.

Thaw, sun, grey.  Hot-bed heats.

Benham finished mending the hedges.

Covered the asparagus beds, & the artichokes with muckle: these were grown out very tall.

Prodigious high tide at London & in it’s environs!  it did much damage in various parts.

My apricot trees were never stripped of their buds before; & therefore seem to have suffered from a casual flight of gross-beaks, that came into these parts.