July 31
Posted by sydney on Jul 31st, 2008
- 1792: July 31, 1792 – The young Hirundines begin to congregate on the tower. How punctual are these birds in all their proceedings!
- 1791: July 31, 1791 – “On the last day of this month my Fathr Mr Ben Wh. shot in his own garden at S. Lambeth, a Loxia curvisrostra, or Cross bill, as it was feeding on the cones of his Scotch firs. There were six, four cocks, & two hens: what he shot was a cock, which was beautifull variegated with brown, & green, & a great deal of red: it answered very accurately to Willughby’s description; & weighed rather more than 1 ounce & an half. In the evening the five remaining birds were seen to fly over the garden, making a chearful note.” Thus far Mrs Ben White. To which we add that flights of Cross bills used to frequent Mrs Snooke’s scotch firs in the month of July only. Mr Ray says, “per autumnum interdum sed rarius in Angliam venit, non autem apud nos perennat aut ndificat.” Synopsis.
- 1789: July 31, 1789 – Louring, vast rain, blowing. This rain was very great at Malpas, in Chesire.
- 1787: July 31, 1787 – Vast rain, an inch & a quarter in 8 hours.
- 1785: July 31, 1785 – Hops begin to form on their poles: but the gardens in general, fall off, & look lousey, since the rains.
- 1783: July 31, 1783 – The after-grass in the great meadow burns. The sheep-down burns & is rusty. Much water in the pond on the hill! This morning Will Tanner shot, off the tall meris-trees in the great mead, 17 young black-birds. The cherries of these trees amuse the birds & save the garden-fruit.
- 1780: July 31, 1780 – Dined at Bramshot. Turnips flourish on the sands. Mr Richardon’s garden at Bramshot-place abounds with fruit.
- 1775: July 31, 1775 – Horses at plow so teized by flies as to be quite frantic. Horses are never tormenteed in that manner ’til after midsumr: the people say it is the nose-fly that distracts them so. I can discover only such flies as haunt the heads of horses: perhaps at this season they lay their eggs in the nose & ears. I never can discern any oestrus on those days, only swarms of small muscae.
- 1773: July 31, 1773 – The lightening beat down a chimney on the Barnet: no person was hurt. Measles still about.
* Thro’ this month the Caprimulgi are busy every evening in catching the solstitial chafers which abound on chalky soils on the tops of hills. These birds certainly do, as I suspected last year, take these insects with their feet, & pick them to pieces as they flie along, & so pouch them for their young. Any person that has a quick eye may see them bend their heads downwards, & push out their short feet forwards as they pull their prey to pieces. The chafer may also be discerned in their claws. The serrated claw threfore on their longest toe is no doubt for the purpose of holding their prey. This is the only insectivorous bird that I know which takes it’s prety flying with it’s feet. - 1772: July 31, 1772 – The ground dryed to powder.
- 1771: July 31, 1771 – Considerable rain in the night. Clap of thunder. Showers about.
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