The Natural History of Selborne

One Fly-catcher builds in the Virginia Creeper, over the garden-door: & one in the vine over the parlor-window. Between Newton & us we heard three Fern-owls chattering on the hill; one at the side of the High-wood, one at the top of the Bostal, & one near the Hermitage. That at the top of the Bostal is heard distinctly in my orchard. Fern-owls haunt year by year nearly the same spots.

Timothy the tortoise has been missing for more than a week. He got out of the garden at the wicket, we suppose; & may be in the fields among the grass.  Timothy found in the little bean-field short of the pound-field.  The nightingale, fern-owl, cuckow, & grass-hopper lark may be heard at the same time in my outlet.  Gryllo-talpa curs in the moist meadows.

Barn-owls are out in the day, taking their prey in the sunshine about noon.

Ashes & walnut trees naked yet.  Fern-owl chatters.  Thunder.

Saw the planet Venus enter the disk of the sun.  Just as the sun was setting the spot was very visible to the naked eye.  Nightingale sings; wood-owl hoots;  fern-own chatters.