The Natural History of Selborne

Owl by T. Bewick

• 1792: February 2, 1792 – Grass-walks are very verduruous.
• 1791: February 2, 1791 – Prodigious high tide at London & in it’s environs!  it did much damage in various parts.
• 1788: January 2, 1788 – Second Bantham pullet lays.  Cucumbers sprout.
• 1787: February 2, 1787 – Storm-cock sings.  Brown wood-owls come down from the hanger in the dusk of the evening, & sit hooting all night on my wall-nut trees.  Their note is like a fine vox humana, & very tunable.  The owls probably watch for mice about the buildings.  White owls haunt my barn, but do not seem to perch often on the trees.
• 1785: February 2, 1785 – The scorched laurels cast their leaves, & are almost naked.
• 1780: February 2, 1780 – Vast condensations, drippings from the trees.
• 1775: February 2, 1775 – Much damage at Portsmouth by unusual tides, & at the isle of Wight.  * A rook should be shot weekly the year thro’, & it’s crop examined: hence perhaps might be discovered whether in the whole they do more harm or good from the contents at various periods.  Tho’ this experiment might show that the birds often injure corn, & turneps; ye the continual consumption of grubs, & noxious insects would rather preponderate in their favour.
• 1774: February 2, 1774 – The land-springs have not been so high since spring 1764.
• 1773: February 2, 1773 – No snow lies.
• 1772: February 2, 1772 – Much old snow remaining, & the bare places now covered again.  Tom-tit attempts it’s spring note.