The Natural History of SelborneCarey and Lea, 1832 - 342 pages |
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Page x
... Sussex Downs Swallows · 15 , 16 59 97 73 15 112 , 145 226 93 239 201 41 , 51 , 89 , 121 , 183 , 193 , 205 , 314 Swallows , Torpidity of Swifts Tame Snake Teals The Holt The Plestor Titlark Titmouse Toads Tortoise Tortoise , Land Turnip ...
... Sussex Downs Swallows · 15 , 16 59 97 73 15 112 , 145 226 93 239 201 41 , 51 , 89 , 121 , 183 , 193 , 205 , 314 Swallows , Torpidity of Swifts Tame Snake Teals The Holt The Plestor Titlark Titmouse Toads Tortoise Tortoise , Land Turnip ...
Page 13
... Sussex , and not far from the county of Surrey ; is about fifty miles south - west of London , in latitude 51 , and near midway between the towns of Alton and Petersfield . Being very large and extensive , it abuts on twelve parishes ...
... Sussex , and not far from the county of Surrey ; is about fifty miles south - west of London , in latitude 51 , and near midway between the towns of Alton and Petersfield . Being very large and extensive , it abuts on twelve parishes ...
Page 14
... Sussex Downs , by Guild - down near Guildford , and by the Downs round Dorking , and Ryegate in Surrey , to the north - east ; which altogether , with the country beyond Alton , and Farnham , form a noble and extensive outline . At the ...
... Sussex Downs , by Guild - down near Guildford , and by the Downs round Dorking , and Ryegate in Surrey , to the north - east ; which altogether , with the country beyond Alton , and Farnham , form a noble and extensive outline . At the ...
Page 28
... Sussex ; by Bramshot , Hedleigh , and Kingsley . This royalty consists entirely of sand , covered with heath and fern ; but is somewhat diversified with hills and dales , without having one standing tree in the whole extent . In the ...
... Sussex ; by Bramshot , Hedleigh , and Kingsley . This royalty consists entirely of sand , covered with heath and fern ; but is somewhat diversified with hills and dales , without having one standing tree in the whole extent . In the ...
Page 54
... Sussex in autumn ; but that they do not all withdraw I am sure , because I see a few stragglers in many counties , at all times of the year , especially about warrens and stone quarries . the gen- I have no acquaintance at present among ...
... Sussex in autumn ; but that they do not all withdraw I am sure , because I see a few stragglers in many counties , at all times of the year , especially about warrens and stone quarries . the gen- I have no acquaintance at present among ...
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Common terms and phrases
abound Andalusia animal appear April autumn birds of passage birds of prey breed British Zoology brood called chaffinches color common congeners cuckoo curious district eggs feeding feet female field fieldfares fish flocks frequent frost garden genus Gibraltar grass Greatham ground Hanger haunt hedges hirundines hirundo house-martins inches insects late legs letter Linnæus mandible manner martins mentioned migration morning Motacilla natural history naturalist nest never night observed once Ornithology owls pair perhaps prey procure quadrupeds RAII rain redwings remarkable remiges retire ring-dove ringousels season seems seen Selborne shot sing snow soon sort species specimens spring stone stone curlew strange summer birds suppose Sussex swallow swifts tail tion titmouse torpid trees vast village weather Whip-poor-will white-throat wild wings winter Wolmer Forest wonder woodcocks Woodlark woods yellow wagtail young Zoology
Popular passages
Page 157 - Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust, And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
Page 290 - Swinging slow with sullen roar; Or if the air will not permit, Some still removed place will fit, Where glowing embers through the room Teach light to counterfeit a gloom, Far from all resort of mirth, Save the cricket on the hearth, Or the bellman's drowsy charm To bless the doors from nightly harm.
Page 340 - Of glory obscured ; as when the sun, new risen, Looks through the horizontal misty air Shorn of his beams ; or from behind the moon, JOHN MILTON. 345 In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs.
Page 252 - This incident is no bad solution of that strange circumstance which grave historians as well as the poets assert, of exposed children being sometimes nurtured by female wild beasts that probably had lost their young. For it is not one whit more marvellous that Romulus and Remus, in their infant state, should be nursed by a she-wolf, than that a poor little sucking leveret should be fostered and cherished by a bloody grimalkin. " viridi foetam Mavortis in antro Procubuisse lupam : geminos huic ubera...
Page 121 - The powers of its wing were wonderful, exceeding, if possible, the various evolutions and quick turns of the swallow genus. But the circumstance that pleased me most was, that 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...
Page 21 - ... sat on. At last, when it gave way, the bird was flung from her nest; and, though...
Page 20 - Many were the attempts of the neighbouring youths to get at this eyry; the difficulty whetted their inclinations, and each was ambitious of surmounting the arduous task. But when they arrived at the swelling, it jutted out so in their way, and was so far beyond their grasp, that the most daring lads were awed, and acknowledged the undertaking to be too hazard* Zoologist, i.
Page 37 - 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 85 - The notes of this solitary bird, from the ideas which are naturally associated with them, seem like the voice of an old friend, and are listened to by almost all with great interest. At first they issue from some retired part of the woods, the glen, or mountain ; in a few evenings, perhaps, we hear them from the adjoining coppice, the garden fence, the road before the door, and even from the roof of the dwelling-house, long after the family have retired to rest. Some of the more ignorant and superstitious...
Page 207 - ... and then are conducted to the dead leafless bough of some tree, where, sitting in a row, they are attended with great assiduity, and may then be called perchers. In a day or two more they become flyers, but are still unable to take their own food ; therefore they play about near the place where the dams are hawking for flies : and when a mouthful is collected, at a certain signal given, the dam and the nestling advance, rising towards each other, and meeting at an angle ; the young one all...