The Natural History of Selborne: With Observations on Various Parts of Nature and the Naturalist's CalendarBell & Daldy, 1870 - 416 pages |
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Page xvi
... eggs in an old nest , had hatched them , and that when this is the case they get the start of those that build new ones by ten days or a fortnight . He speaks with some degree of triumph to having ricked his meadow hay in delicate order ...
... eggs in an old nest , had hatched them , and that when this is the case they get the start of those that build new ones by ten days or a fortnight . He speaks with some degree of triumph to having ricked his meadow hay in delicate order ...
Page 38
... eggs , which are generally deposited on a dry bank . As soon as the eggs are hatched , the young are conveyed to wet swampy grounds . Sir Charles Taylor of Hollycombe , for many years past has had a couple of young woodcocks on his ...
... eggs , which are generally deposited on a dry bank . As soon as the eggs are hatched , the young are conveyed to wet swampy grounds . Sir Charles Taylor of Hollycombe , for many years past has had a couple of young woodcocks on his ...
Page 41
... eggs were five in number , about the size of a skylark's , but shorter and rounder , and spotted with bluish ash and olive brown , some of the spots inclining to dusky or brackish brown . The markings were variously distributed on the ...
... eggs were five in number , about the size of a skylark's , but shorter and rounder , and spotted with bluish ash and olive brown , some of the spots inclining to dusky or brackish brown . The markings were variously distributed on the ...
Page 42
... eggs still , and squab young . The last swift I observed was about the 21st of August : it was a straggler . Redstarts , fly - catchers , white - throats , and reguli non cristati , still appear ; but I have seen no black - caps lately ...
... eggs still , and squab young . The last swift I observed was about the 21st of August : it was a straggler . Redstarts , fly - catchers , white - throats , and reguli non cristati , still appear ; but I have seen no black - caps lately ...
Page 48
... eggs were put in the spring into the nests of their congeners , as goldfinches , greenfinches , & c . ? Before winter , perhaps , they might be hardened , and able to shift for themselves . About ten years ago , I used to spend some ...
... eggs were put in the spring into the nests of their congeners , as goldfinches , greenfinches , & c . ? Before winter , perhaps , they might be hardened , and able to shift for themselves . About ten years ago , I used to spend some ...
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Common terms and phrases
abound animal appear April April 14 April 22 autumn beech birds of passage breed brood called chaffinches cold colour common cuckoo curious DAINES BARRINGTON DEAR district dogs eggs feed feet female fieldfares flies flocks forest frequently garden Gilbert White grass ground hatched haunt hedges hirundines hirundo house-martins inches insects July July 13 July 22 June June 11 June 22 June 9 late legs LETTER Linnæus male manner March March 26 MARKWICK mentioned migration mild morning Motacilla natural history naturalist neighbourhood nest never night observed perhaps prey quadrupeds rain remarkable rooks says season seems SELBORNE Sept showers sings snow soon species spring stone curlew suppose swallows swifts tail THOMAS PENNANT titmouse trees vast village warm weather WHITE wild wings winter Wolmer woodcocks woods wren young
Popular passages
Page 300 - Less than archangel ruined, and the excess Of glory obscured ; as when the sun, new risen, Looks through the horizontal misty air Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon, In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs.
Page 146 - I saw it distinctly, more than once, put out its short leg while on the wing, and by a bend of the head, deliver somewhat into its mouth. If it takes any part of its prey with its foot, as I have now the greatest reason to suppose it does these chafers, I no longer wonder at the use of its middle toe, which is curiously furnished with a serrated claw...
Page 209 - When these junoi are thus far prepared, they must lie out on the grass to be bleached, and take the dew for some nights, and afterwards be dried in the sun.
Page 33 - Now scarcely moving through a reedy pool, Now starting to a sudden stream, and now Gently diffus'd into a limpid plain ; A various group the herds and flocks compose, Rural confusion ! on the grassy bank Some ruminating lie ; while others stand Half in the flood, and often bending, sip The circling surface.
Page 203 - About nine an appearance very unusual began to demand our attention, a shower of cobwebs falling from very elevated regions, and continuing, without any interruption till the close of the day. These webs were not single filmy threads, floating in the air in all directions, but perfect flakes or rags ; some near an inch broad, and five or six long, which fell with a degree of velocity, that showed they were considerably heavier than the atmosphere.
Page 136 - Part loosely wing the region, part more wise In common, ranged in figure wedge their way, Intelligent of seasons, and set forth Their airy caravan high over seas Flying, and over lands with mutual wing Easing their flight...
Page 143 - Faunists, as you observe, are too apt to acquiesce in bare descriptions, and a few synonyms: the reason is plain : because all that may be done at home in a man's study; but the investigation of the life and conversation of animals is a concern of much more trouble and difficulty, and is not to be attained but by the active and inquisitive, and by those that reside much in the country.
Page 261 - If you should try the experiment in still larger birds, the disparity would still increase. It must be matter of great curiosity to see the stilt plover move ; to observe how it can wield such a length of lever with such feeble muscles as the thighs seem to be furnished with. At best one should expect it to be but a bad walker : but what adds to the wonder is, that it has no back toe. Now without that steady prop to support its steps it must be liable, in speculation, to perpetual vacillations, and...
Page 225 - Earthworms, though in appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of Nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm. For to say nothing of half the birds, and some quadrupeds, which are almost entirely supported by them, worms seem to be great promoters of vegetation...
Page 351 - The pale descending year, yet pleasing still, A gentler mood inspires; for now the leaf Incessant rustles from the mournful grove, Oft startling such as, studious, walk below, And slowly circles through the waving air.