The Natural History of Selborne

The martins have just finished the shell of a nest left unfinished in some former year under the eaves of my stable.  Apis longicornis bores holes in the grass-walks.

Ophrys nidus avis  Bro Tomas.  This curious plant was found in bloom in the long Lythe among the dead leaves under the thickest beeches: & also among some bushes on Dorton.

Apple-trees in fine bloom.  Began to tack some shoots of vines.  Few whitethroats this year.

Flycatcher appears: the latest summer-bird of passage.  The stoparola is most punctual to the 20th of May!!!  This bird, which comes so late, begins building immediately.

The first leaves of the peaches & nect: sadly blotched, & rivelled.  These leaves seem not to be affected by animals; but are monstrously distorted.  Mem: to observe whether the peaches & nect. whose leaves are so blotched, can bear any well-flavoured fruit.  [later note:]  They bore fine fruit in plenty, considering the wet shady season.

Thinned the apricots & took off a large basket of fruit.

Rooks bring out their young: they & the crows, & daws & ravens, frequent the top of the hanger, & prey on chafers.

A pair of martins began building their nest against my brew-house.

Swifts have encreased to their usual number of about eight of nine pairs.

Crows bring out their young in troops.  Horses begin to lie abroad.