The Natural History of SelborneCarey and Lea, 1832 - 342 pages |
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Page 41
... ( hirundines rustica ) being found in a torpid state during the winter in the Isle of Wight , or any part of this country , I never heard any such account worth attending to . But a cler- gyman , of an inquisitive turn , assures me , that ...
... ( hirundines rustica ) being found in a torpid state during the winter in the Isle of Wight , or any part of this country , I never heard any such account worth attending to . But a cler- gyman , of an inquisitive turn , assures me , that ...
Page 89
... ( hirundines rustica ) clustering on the stunted shrubs and bushes , as if they had roosted there all night . As soon as the air became clear and pleas- ant , they all were on the wing at once ; and , by a placid and easy flight ...
... ( hirundines rustica ) clustering on the stunted shrubs and bushes , as if they had roosted there all night . As soon as the air became clear and pleas- ant , they all were on the wing at once ; and , by a placid and easy flight ...
Page 101
... hirundines , and the larger bats , are supported by some sorts of high - flying gnats , scarabs , or phalana , that are of short continuance ; and that the short stay of these strangers is regulated by the defect of their food . By my ...
... hirundines , and the larger bats , are supported by some sorts of high - flying gnats , scarabs , or phalana , that are of short continuance ; and that the short stay of these strangers is regulated by the defect of their food . By my ...
Page 187
... hirundines of a village are up in arms at the sight of a hawk , whom they will persecute till he leaves that district . A very exact observer has often remarked that a pair of ravens , nesting in the rock of Gibraltar , would suffer no ...
... hirundines of a village are up in arms at the sight of a hawk , whom they will persecute till he leaves that district . A very exact observer has often remarked that a pair of ravens , nesting in the rock of Gibraltar , would suffer no ...
Page 193
... hirundines are a most inoffensive , harmless , entertaining , social , and useful tribe of birds ; they touch no fruit in our gardens ; delight , all except one species , in attaching themselves to our houses ; amuse us with their ...
... hirundines are a most inoffensive , harmless , entertaining , social , and useful tribe of birds ; they touch no fruit in our gardens ; delight , all except one species , in attaching themselves to our houses ; amuse us with their ...
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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...