The Natural History of Selborne

Codlings blow.  Hot-beds want rain to make them ferment.

Grass-hopper-lark whispers.  The bombylius medius is much about in March & the beginning of April, & soon seems to retire.  It is a very early insecte.  Pulled won the old martins nests against the brew-house & stable: they get foul & full of vermin.  These abounded with fleas, & the cases of Hippoboscae hirundinis.  Besides while these birds are building they are much more in sight, & very amusing.

Mowed all round the garden.  Cut the first brace of cucumbers: they were well-grown.  Nightingale sings.

Rain is much wanted.  At Fyfield; charadrius oedicnemus returns & clamors April 14; first swallow, April 16; nightingale April 16; cuckow Ap. 20; swifts first seen Apr: 26: came to their nesting-place May 8.  At Lyndon, in Rutland first swallow Apr: 16; first swift May 6th.

Oaks are felled; the bark runs.

One swallow at Wallingford.

Young geese & ducks.  Four swallows at Alton.

Linnets, & chaffinches flock still: so are not paired.  Some few sky-larks survive.

No rain since the beginning of March. The ground dry & harsh.  The Bombylius medius abounds.  It is an hairy insect, like an humble-bee, but with only two wings, & a long straight beak, with which it sucks the early flowers, always appearing in March.  The female seems to lay it’s eggs as it poises on the it’s wings, by striking it’s tail on the ground, & against the grass that stands in it’s way in a quick manner for several times together.

Gossamer floats.  Wood-larks hang suspended in the air, & sing all night.