The Natural History of Selborne

Myriads of tadpoles travers Comb-wood pond in shoales:  when rain comes they will emigrate to land, & cover the paths & fields.  We draw much water for the garden, so that the well sinks. Flowers are hurried out of bloom by the heat;  spring-corn & gardens suffer.

The potatoes in the meadow small, & the ground very stiff.  Low creeping frogs.

Much thunder. Some people in the village were struck down by the storm, but not hurt.  The stroke seemed to them like a violent push or shove.  The ground is well-soaked.  Wheat much lodged.  Frogs migrate from the ponds.

Young frogs migrate, & spread around the ponds for more than a furlong: they march about all day long, separating in pursuit of food; & get to the top of the hill, & into the N. field.

Some of the little frogs from the ponds stroll quite up the hill: they seem to spread in all directions.

Young minute frogs migrate from the ponds this showery weather, & fill the lanes and paths: they are quite black.

Ground well moistened.  The frogs from James Kinght’s ponds travel in troops to the top of the Hanger.

Fine shower in the night.  Distant thunder.  Frogs migrate in myriads from the ponds.

Barley & pease suffer much. Frogs continue to migrate from the ponds.

Frogs migrate with the showers of yesterday.  Dust flies.  No appearance of rain left.