The Natural History of SelborneHarper, 1842 - 335 pages |
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Page 37
... feeding . During this great proportion of the day they drop much dung , in which insects nes- tle , and so supply food for the fish , which would be poorly subsisted but for this contingency . Thus Nature , who is a great economist ...
... feeding . During this great proportion of the day they drop much dung , in which insects nes- tle , and so supply food for the fish , which would be poorly subsisted but for this contingency . Thus Nature , who is a great economist ...
Page 38
... feed in the brooks and meadows , returning again with the dawn of the morning . Had this lake an arm or two more , and were it planted round with thick covert ( for now it is perfectly naked ) , it might make a valuable decoy . Yet ...
... feed in the brooks and meadows , returning again with the dawn of the morning . Had this lake an arm or two more , and were it planted round with thick covert ( for now it is perfectly naked ) , it might make a valuable decoy . Yet ...
Page 47
... piece of ground which joins to my garden for some weeks . They used to march about in a stately manner , feeding in the walks many times in the day ; and seemed disposed to build in. OF SELBORNE . 47 Linnet Redstart 130.
... piece of ground which joins to my garden for some weeks . They used to march about in a stately manner , feeding in the walks many times in the day ; and seemed disposed to build in. OF SELBORNE . 47 Linnet Redstart 130.
Page 50
... feed . The adroitness it showed in shearing off the wings of the flies , which were always rejected , was worthy of observation , and pleased me much . Insects seemed to be most acceptable , though it did not re- fuse raw flesh when ...
... feed . The adroitness it showed in shearing off the wings of the flies , which were always rejected , was worthy of observation , and pleased me much . Insects seemed to be most acceptable , though it did not re- fuse raw flesh when ...
Page 52
... feeding on haws , appeared in this kingdom in the winter of 1685 . The mention of haws puts me in mind that there is a total failure of that wild fruit , so conducive to the support of many of the winged nation . For the same severe ...
... feeding on haws , appeared in this kingdom in the winter of 1685 . The mention of haws puts me in mind that there is a total failure of that wild fruit , so conducive to the support of many of the winged nation . For the same severe ...
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Common terms and phrases
abound Alauda Andalusia animals appear April autumn birds of passage birds of prey blackcap brood build called chaffinches colour Comb Wood common buzzard congeners coppice cuckoo curious DEAR SIR district eggs feed feet fern-owl fieldfares fields flocks frequently frost garden Greatham ground Hanger hatched haunt hedges hirundines hirundo house-martins hundred inches insects late legs LETTER Linnĉus manner martins mentioned migration morning Motacilla natural neighbour neighbourhood nest never night observed owls parish perhaps ponds prey procure quadrupeds Raii rain redwings remarkable remiges retire ring-dove ringousels rooks roost season seems seen Selborne shot sing snow soon sort species spring stone curlew strange summer birds suppose Sussex swifts tail thrushes tion titmouse trees vast village weather whinchats whitethroat wild wings winter Wolmer Forest wonder woodcocks Woodlark woods young
Popular passages
Page 83 - For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Page 331 - July 20, inclusive, during which period the wind varied to every quarter, without making any alteration in the air. The sun, at noon, looked as blank as a clouded moon, and shed a rust-coloured ferruginous light on the ground and floors of rooms ; but was particularly lurid and bloodcoloured at rising and setting. All the time the heat was so intense that butchers...
Page 92 - Amusive birds ! say where your hid retreat, When the frost rages and the tempests beat ? Whence your return, by such nice instinct led, When Spring, soft season, lifts her bloomy head? Such baffled searches mock man's prying pride, The God of Nature is your secret guide!
Page 232 - When these junci 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 77 - It is, I find, in zoology as it is in botany: all nature is so full, that that district produces the greatest variety which is the most examined.
Page 279 - Sounds do not always give us pleasure according to their sweetness and melody ; nor do harsh sounds always displease. We are more apt to be captivated or disgusted with the associations which they promote, than with the notes themselves. Thus the shrilling of the field-cricket, though sharp and stridulous, yet marvellously delights some hearers, filling their minds with a train of summer ideas of everything that is rural, verdurous and joyous.
Page 183 - ... which had built in a bank in my fields. This bird, a friend and myself had observed as she sat in her nest, but were particularly careful not to disturb her, though we saw she eyed us with some degree of jealousy. Some days after, as we passed that way, we were desirous of remarking how this brood went on; but no nest could be found, till I happened to take up a large bundle of long green moss, as it were carelessly thrown over the nest, in order to dodge the eye of any impertinent intruder.
Page 204 - ... ranging to distant downs and commons even in windy weather, which the other species seem much to dislike; nay, even frequenting exposed sea-port towns, and making little excursions over the salt water. Horsemen on wide downs are often closely attended by a little party of swallows for miles together, which plays before and behind them, sweeping around, and collecting all the sculking insects that are roused by the trampling of the horses...
Page 290 - But as he avoids heat in the summer, so, in the decline of the year, he improves the faint autumnal beams, by getting within the reflection of a...
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.