The Natural History of Selborne

Women & children go a-acorning, & sell their acorns at one shilling pr bushel.

Nailed-up a Greek, & an Italian inscription on the front of the alcove on ye hanger.  Boys took a large round wasps nest in the Ewel, nearly as large as a gallon measure.  Several martins round the church.  Many flies on the tower, which come out from the belfry to sun themselves.

A bag of hops from master Hale, weight 36 pounds, & an half.

D.L. Virginian creeper sheds it’s leaves.  It’s leaves have a silky appearance.  Tho. H. White, & H.H.W. went to Fyfield.

Bought of bright hops– 21 pounds; of brown– 49.

Many gulls, & wildfowls on Wolmer pond.  Whitings brought.

Gathered-in some royal russets, very fine.

Fyfield, the spaniel, rejects the bones of a wood-cock with horror.  Gathered in the non-pareils.  The prodigious crop of apples this year verified in some measure the words of Virgil made use of in the description of the Corycian garden;

“Quotq’ in flore novo pomis se fertilis arbos/Induerat, totidem in autumno matura tenebat.”

Gathered six bush. & half of dearlings from the meadow-tree: four or five bush. remain on the tree.  The foliage of the Virginian creeper of a fine blood-colour.

H.H. White came from Fyfield.