The Natural History of Selborne

Harsh, windy unpleasing weather for many days.

Wall-cherries loaded with bloom. The wild meris, cherry, blossoms.

Grass-hopper lark whispers.  Cowslips blow.

Gave away 24 eggs of my Bantham kind among my neighbours.

Timothy begins to eat: he crops the daisies, & walks down to the fruit-wall to browse on the lettuces.  Mr Ventris observed a little whirl-wind, which originated in the road before his house, taking up the dust & straws that came in it’s way.  After mounting up thro’ one of the elms before the Yard, & carrying away two of the rooks nests in which were young squabs; it then went off, leaving the court-yard strewed with dust & straws, & scraps of twigs, & the little naked rooks sprawling on the ground.  A pair of rooks belonging to one of these nests built again & had a late brood.

Mended the fences this week all round my outlet.  Insects abound; yet no swallows to be seen.  The voice of the Cuckoo is heard in the land.

Pronged the asparagus-beds. Sowed Mrs Eveleigh’s curious asters in a hot-bed; & several perennials in the cold ground.

Bees frequent the cucumber-frames.  Nightingales heard below Temple.

Mowed the grass of the fairey-ring on the grass-plot.  Sent Mr White of Newton some male cucumber-blossoms in a box, to set some fruit in bloom in his frames.  Fritillaria blows.

Crown Imperials blow, & stink.  Much gossamer.  Bat.