The Natural History of Selborne

Redwings begin to appear on their winter visit.  Some ring-ouzels still about.  When redwings come, woodcocks are near at hand.

My crop of apples is large; pears are but few; medlars in abundance wallnuts many, but not very good.  One apple-tree produced ten bushels.

Many martins near Houghton-bridge.  Some swallows all the way.

Not one wheatear to be seen on all the downs.  Swallows abound between Brighthelmstone & Beeding.  Not on ring-ouzel to be seen on the downs either coming or  going.

Whitings in season still.  Many martins, & some swallows hover about the cliffs near Lewes.

White low fogs over the brooks.

Timothy, the old tortoise, weighed six pounds, & eleven ounces averdupoise.

Herrings come into season.   The after-grass in this grazing-country is very short, & scanty.

Mrs Snooke has gathered-in all her apples, & pears: her fruit is finely flavoured in such hot years.  Mrs Snooke’s black grapes begin to ripen.  No wasps here.  The distress in this place for want of water is very great:  they have few wells in this deep loam; & the little pits & ponds are all dry; so that the neighbours all come for water to Mrs Snooke’s ponds.

No stone-curlews congregate this autumn at Chilgrove.