The Natural History of SelborneCarey and Lea, 1832 - 342 pages |
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Page 42
... broods of swallows began to appear this year on July the 11th , and young martins ( hirun- dines urbica ) were then fledged in their nests . Both species will breed again once : for I see by my Fauna of last year , that young broods ...
... broods of swallows began to appear this year on July the 11th , and young martins ( hirun- dines urbica ) were then fledged in their nests . Both species will breed again once : for I see by my Fauna of last year , that young broods ...
Page 72
... brood into the pouch under her belly , upon the like emergencies ; and yet the London viper catchers insist on it , to Mr. Barrington , that no such thing ever happens . The serpent kind eat , I be- lieve , but once in a year ; or ...
... brood into the pouch under her belly , upon the like emergencies ; and yet the London viper catchers insist on it , to Mr. Barrington , that no such thing ever happens . The serpent kind eat , I be- lieve , but once in a year ; or ...
Page 112
... broods towards the south at the de- cline of the year ; so that the rock of Gibraltar is the great rendezvous and place of observation , from whence they take their departure each way towards Europe or Africa . It is therefore no mean ...
... broods towards the south at the de- cline of the year ; so that the rock of Gibraltar is the great rendezvous and place of observation , from whence they take their departure each way towards Europe or Africa . It is therefore no mean ...
Page 120
... brood of some par- ticular phalana belonging to the oak , and exhibited on the occasion a command of wing superior , I think , to the swal- low itself . " When a person approaches the haunts of fern - owls in an evening , they continue ...
... brood of some par- ticular phalana belonging to the oak , and exhibited on the occasion a command of wing superior , I think , to the swal- low itself . " When a person approaches the haunts of fern - owls in an evening , they continue ...
Page 122
... brood for- sook their nest , and were flying round the village . From this day I never saw one of the swallow kind till November the 3d ; when twenty , or perhaps thirty , house - martins were playing all day long by the side of the ...
... brood for- sook their nest , and were flying round the village . From this day I never saw one of the swallow kind till November the 3d ; when twenty , or perhaps thirty , house - martins were playing all day long by the side of the ...
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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...