The Natural History of Selborne

It appears from good information that sometimes the osprey falco haliaetus, Linn: is known to hawk the great pond at Frinsham.  It darts down with great violence on a fish, so as to plunge itself quite under water.  The man at the ale-house adjoining shot one as it was devouring its prey on the handle of a plough.  This man shot also a sea-pie, ostralegus on the banks of his pond.

Fritillaria imperialis meleagris.

Prunus spinosa. The black-thorn begins to blow. This tree usually blossoms while cold N.E. winds blow: so that the harsh rugged weather obtaining at this season is called by the country people black-thorn winter.

I am informed that three swallows appeared over a mill-pond at Bramshot on Sunday, March 28.  They were seen over the paper-mill pond by Mr Pym.

Apricot blossoms seem mostly cut off: peaches & nectarines are well-blown, & look well.  Sowed a box of polyanth-seed, & a bed of Celeri.

Hard frost, ice, cloudless, sharp wind.  No larks in the fields, & few birds to be heard or seen; probably this harsh dry air renders their food scarce, & sends them to the lower moister grounds.

Turned out the cucumbers into their hills.  Beds still too hot.  The dry weather has lasted just a month.  Roads all dryed up.

Sharp air.  Three swallows were seen I hear this day over the paper-mill pond at Bramshot.

Grass begins to grow.  A large flock of titlarks on the common, feeding & flitting on, probably going down to the forest to the moory moist places.

Coluber natrix.  Summer weather with a brisk wind.  Cock & hen wheatear.