The Natural History of Selborne

Wheat is very backward: hardly any ears appear. It is worthy of notice that on my clayey soil horses prefer the grass that grows on a sand-walk, tho’ shaded & dripped by a tall hedge, to that which springs from the natural ground in a sunny and open situation.

Hinds on Bagshot-heath.

Poygala vulg. in flower.  Mole-cricket churs.

Chafers abound. Sanicula europea in flower.

Fleas abound on the steep sand-banks where the bank-martins build.

Chafers much suppressed by the cold & the rain.

Many sorts of dragon-flies appear for the first time.  Swifts devour the small dragon-flies as they first take their flight from out their aurelias, which are lodged on the weeds of ponds.  Chafers are eaten by the turkey, the rook, & the house-sparrow.

St. foin is large, & thick, & lodged by the rain.

Backward apples begin to blow.  The chafers seem much incomoded by the cold weather.

Cold & dark.  Harsh, hazy day.