The Natural History of Selborne

Stone curlew, photo by Chrumps

• 1788: March 22, 1788 – On the 27th of February 1788, Stone-curlews were heard to pipe; & on March 1st, after it was dark some were passing over the village, as might be perceived by their quick, short note, which they use in their nocturnal excursions by way of watch-word, that they may not stray, & lose their companions.  Thus we see, that retire whithersoever they may in the winter, they return again early in the spring, & are, as it now appears, the first summer birds that come back. The smallest uncrested wren has been deemed the earliest migrater, but it is never heard ’till about the 20th of March.  Perhaps the mildness of the season may have quickened the emigration of the curlews this year.  They spend the day in high elevated fields & sheep-walks: but seem to descend in the night to streams & meadows, perhaps for water which their upland haunts do not afford them.
• 1787: March 22, 1787 – The tortoise comes forth from his hole.  Men open their hop-hills & cut their hops.
• 1786: March 22, 1786 – Some patches of snow still on the hanger: much snow in Newton hollow lane.
• 1785: March 22, 1785 – Wheat-fields look naked like fallows.  The surface of the ground is all dust.
• 1778: March 22, 1778 – Frogs spawn in ditches.
• 1776: March 22, 1776 – Came from London to Selborne.  Hot sun: summer-like weather.  When I arrived in Hants I found the wheat looking well, & the turneps little injured.  My laurels & laurustines somewhat injured; but only those that stood in hot sunny aspects.  No evergreens quite destroyed & not half the damage sustained that befell in Jan. 1768.  Those laurels that are somewhat scorched on the S. sides, are perfectly untouched on their N. sides.  The care I took in ordering the snow to be carefully shaken from the branches wherever it fell, seems greatly to have availed my laurels.  Mr Yalden’s laurels facing to the N. untouched.  Portugal laurels not hurt.
• 1775: March 22, 1775 – Snake appears: toad comes forth.  Frogs spawn.  Horse-ants come forth.
• 1773: March 22, 1773 – Gossamer floats about.
• 1772: March 22, 1772 – Least uncrest. wren appears: first summer bird of passage.
• 1770: March 22, 1770 – Ice very thick: ground growing dusty.  Blossom-buds of the pear-trees seem to be injured by the frost.

The stone-curlew almost gave up on England for a while, but England has not given up on the stone-curlew.