The Natural History of Selborne

Pulled down the old forsaken martin’s nests in some of which we found dead young.  They grow fetid, & foul from long use.  Redstart appears in my tall hedges.

White frost, sun.  Timothy the tortoise weighs 6 ae. 14 oz.   Dug several plots of garden ground & ground digs well.

Brimstone butter-fly.  The tortoise comes out.  Dog violets blow.  Summer-like.

Timothy the tortoise heaves up the sod under which he is buried.  Daffodil blows.

Wry-neck pipes.  The smallest uncrested wren chirps loudly, & sharply in the hanger.

Some wood-cocks are now found in Hartely-wood: as soon as the weather grows a little warm, they will pair, & leave us.

Rain in the night, spring-like.  Crocus’s make a gaudy show.  Some little snow under the hedges.