The Natural History of Selborne

Titmouse, T. Bewick

• 1792: November 17, 1792 – Baker’s hill is planted all over with horse-beans, which are grown four or five inches high.  They were probably sown by jays; & spring up thro’ the grass, or moss. Many were planted there last year, but not in such abundance as now.
• 1789: November 17, 1789 – Do left us.  Flood at Gracious street.
• 1787: November 17, 1787 – Sam White was chosen by the favour of the Provost & fellows of Oriel Coll: Bishop Robinson’s Exhibitioner.  This advantage will last him three years, ’till he takes his Mrs. degree.
• 1786: November 17, 1786 – I have often observed many titmice in beechen woods: by a heap of beech-mast now lying in my orchard I see that t.mice feed on the kernels of the fruit of that tree: & that marsh-titmice are employed all day in carrying them away.
• 1785: November 17, 1785 – Found the feathers of a ring-ouzel on the down, that had been killed by a hawk.  Mrs Ben White left us & went to London.
• 1780: November 17, 1780 – Somewhat eats the pinks in the garden.
• 1778: November 17, 1778 – Phalaneae flie in abundance about my hedges: those & some others, such as spiders, wood-lice, slippery jacks, & some gnats, & tipulae come forth all the winter in mild weather.
• 1777: November 17, 1777 – Large field-fares abound: vast clouds of them on the common.
• 1774: November 17, 1774 – Trimmed, & tacked the vines: pretty good wood towards the S.E. for next year’s bearing.  The S.W. vines are weak in the wood.
• 1773: November 17, 1773 – The turfing the walks advances apace.
• 1771: November 17, 1771 – A most astonishing, & destructive flood at Newcastle on Tyne.