The Natural History of Selborne

Mrs Snooke’s old tortoise retired under the ground.

Total eclipse of the moon, total but not central.

Frost, ice, snow, grey, bright.

My well is risen very fast.

Sheep-ponds on the downs are all filled by rains.  A great beast-market this day at Arundel.

Whitings, & herrings.  timothy, the old tortoise at this house, weighs 6 pounds 9 ounces & an half averdupoise.  It weighed last year, Oct. 2, and ounce & an half more.  But perhaps the abstemious life that it lives a this season may have reduced it’s bulk: for tortoises seem to eat nothing for some weeks before they lay-up.  However this enquiry shews, that these reptiles do not, as some have imagined, continue to grow as long as they live.  This poor being has been very torpid for some time; but it does not usually retire under ground ’til the middle of next month.

Small showers, sun.

Bad fevers near Chichester.

Mushrooms abound.  Made catchup.

Began lighting fires in the parlor.