The Natural History of Selborne

Harry Holt White left us, & went to Fyfield.

Found the feathers of a ring-ouzel on the down, that had been killed by a hawk.  Mrs Ben White left us & went to London.

Found some rasp-bushes on the down among the furze: & some low yew-trees, gnawn down by the sheep, among the bushes.

We find several pheasants in our walks.  the hills thro’ the fog appeared like vast mountains.

Mr Ben White left us, & went to London.

The ring-ouzel is killed by a hawk.

Began to use celeri: it is very large, & somewhat piped.  Ring-ouzel on the common.

The great holly at Burhant-house is now beginning to blow. Farmer Lasham finishes hay-making!!

A Gent: writes word from St. Mary’s, Scilly, that in the night between the 10th & 11th of this month, the wind being W. there fell such a flight of Woodcocks within the walls of the Garrison, that he himself shot & carryed home 26 couple, besides 3 couple which he wounded, but did not give himself the trouble to retrieve.  On the following day, the 12th the wind continuing W. he found but few.  This person further observes, that easterly & Northerly winds only have usually been remarked propitious in bringing Woodcocks to those islands, viz. Scilly.  So that he is totally at a loss to account for this Western flight, unless they came from Ireland.  As they took their departure in the night between the 11th & 12th, the wind still continuing West, he supposes they were gone to make a visit to the Counties of Cornwall & Devonshire.  From circumstances in the letter, it appears that the ground within the lines of the Garrison abounds with furze.  Some Woodcocks settled in the street of St Mary’s, & ran into the houses & out-houses.

Wild wood-pigeons appear in a large flock in the coppices above Coomwood pond.  Timothy Turner housed the remainder of the hay in Baker’s hill.  Dame Loe came.