The Natural History of Selborne

Gathered in all the grapes for fear of the frost.  We have now enjoyed a dry good season, with no more rain than has been useful, ever since the first week of August.

Beeches love to grow in crouded situations, & will insinuate themselves thro’ the thickest covert, so as to surmount it all.  Are therefore proper to mend thin places in tall hedges.  Strong N. aurora, extending to the W. and S.W. some streaks of fiery red.

Planted a number of small beeches in the tall hedges.

Bees come-out much from their hives, & are very alert.

Large field-fares abound: vast clouds of them on the common.

Thatched roofs smoke in the sun: when this appearance happens rain seldom ensues that day.  This morning they send-up vast volumes of reek.

Put the first coat of plaster on the battin work & ceiling of my new room.

Put the sashes into my new room.

21 house-martins appeared playing about under the hanger.  The air was full of insects.  Others that saw the martins in an other part of the hanger say there were more than 150!  This was a mistake.  Note: no martins have been observed since Oct. 7th ’til this day, when more than 20 were playing about & catching their food over my fields, & along the side of the hanger.  It is remarkable that tho’ this species of Hirundines usually withdraws pretty early in Oct. yet a flight has for many years been seen again for one day on or about the 4th of Novr.  Father it is worthy of notice, that when the Thermr rises above 50, the bat awakens, & comes forth to feed of an evening in every winter-month.  These circumstances favour the notion of a torpid state in birds; & are against the migration of swallows in this kingdom.

Sea-gulls, winter-mews, haunt the fallows.  Beetles flie.