The Natural History of Selborne

One Fly-catcher builds in the Virginia Creeper, over the garden-door: & one in the vine over the parlor-window. Between Newton & us we heard three Fern-owls chattering on the hill; one at the side of the High-wood, one at the top of the Bostal, & one near the Hermitage. That at the top of the Bostal is heard distinctly in my orchard. Fern-owls haunt year by year nearly the same spots.

One waggon carries this year all the Selborne hops to Weyhill: last year there were many loads.  Jack Burbey’s brown owl washes often when a pan of water is set in its way.  Woodcock killed at Bramshot.

Timothy the tortoise has been missing for more than a week. He got out of the garden at the wicket, we suppose; & may be in the fields among the grass.  Timothy found in the little bean-field short of the pound-field.  The nightingale, fern-owl, cuckow, & grass-hopper lark may be heard at the same time in my outlet.  Gryllo-talpa curs in the moist meadows.

When the owl comes-out of an evening, the swifts pursue her, but not with any vehemence.

Barn-owls are out in the day, taking their prey in the sunshine about noon.

Wood-owls hoot much.

Swallows strike at owls, & magpies.  Cut part of my great mead: grass over-ripe.

Ashes & walnut trees naked yet.  Fern-owl chatters.  Thunder.

Most owls seem to hoot exactly in B flat according to several pitch-pipes used in tuning of harpsichords, & sold as strictly at concert pitch.

Saw the planet Venus enter the disk of the sun.  Just as the sun was setting the spot was very visible to the naked eye.  Nightingale sings; wood-owl hoots;  fern-own chatters.