The Natural History of Selborne

Woodcock, Scolopax, appears early.   Glow-worms shine.

Black cap.  Few martins over oak-hanger ponds.  Woodlark whistles.

Ring-ouzels, merula torquata, begin to apear on their autumnal migration.

Hedge-sparrow begins its winter note.

Hardly any swallows have appeared since sunday.

Sprinkling rain & rumbling wind.

Swallows abound.  Tops of the beeches are fringed with yellow.  This morning the swallows rendezvoused in a neighbour’s wallnut tree.  At the dawn of the day they arose altogether in infinite numbers occasioning such a rushing with the strokes of their wings as might be heard to a considerable distance.  *Since that no flock has appeared, only some late broods, & stragglers.

Rain in the night.  Spring sown wheat all housed.

Lapwings congregate on the downs.

Muscae & papiliones abound on on the asters.