The Natural History of Selborne

Brother Henry, Bet, & Charles left us.  Finished turning the mould in the mead.  Received from Mr. Edd Woods 5 gallons, & 1 pint of French brandy.

Gathered-in the swans-egg pears, a bushel; more to be gathered.

Bror. Henry comes.

Will Tanner thinks he saw in the high wood marks where a wood-cock had been boring.  Mr Barker, who rode this day to Rake, Rogate, & Furley-hill, saw much grass, & clover cut, & cutting.  Some barley out.

Several ring-ouzels on Nore hill.  Farmer Tull mows mill-mead, a second crop, which it is expected will prduce near 3 tuns on an acre.  Men mow also clover, hoping to get some hay at last.  Timothy the tortoise spends all the summer in the quarters of the kitchen-garden among the asparagus, &c. but as soon as the first frosty mornings begin, he comes forth to the laurel-hedge, by the side of which he spends the day, & retires under it at night; ’till urged by the encreasing cold he buries himself in Novr amidst the laurel-hedge.

My well, notwithstanding the rains is very low still, so that we let out all the rope to draw a bucket of water.

Vast rain.  Violent current in the street.

Bror. Henry left us.

Charles and Bessy White came.

Bror. Henry came.