The Natural History of SelborneHarper, 1842 - 335 pages |
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Page 51
... autumn , most artificially platted , and composed of the blades of wheat ; perfectly round , and about the size of a cricket - ball , with the aperture so ingeniously clo- sed that there was no discovering to what part it belonged . It ...
... autumn , most artificially platted , and composed of the blades of wheat ; perfectly round , and about the size of a cricket - ball , with the aperture so ingeniously clo- sed that there was no discovering to what part it belonged . It ...
Page 53
... autumn I could not help being much amused with those myriads of the swallow kind which assemble in those parts . But what struck me most was , that from the time they be- gan to congregate , forsaking the chimneys and houses , they ...
... autumn I could not help being much amused with those myriads of the swallow kind which assemble in those parts . But what struck me most was , that from the time they be- gan to congregate , forsaking the chimneys and houses , they ...
Page 58
... autumn ; but that they do not all withdraw I am sure , because I see a few stragglers in many coun- ties at all times of the year , especially about war- rens and stone - quarries . I have no acquaintance at present among the gentlemen ...
... autumn ; but that they do not all withdraw I am sure , because I see a few stragglers in many coun- ties at all times of the year , especially about war- rens and stone - quarries . I have no acquaintance at present among the gentlemen ...
Page 79
... autumn ( when there were no haws ) it fed on yew - berries in the spring it feeds on ivy - berries , which ripen only at that sea- son , in March and April . I must not omit to tell you ( as you have been so lately on the study of ...
... autumn ( when there were no haws ) it fed on yew - berries in the spring it feeds on ivy - berries , which ripen only at that sea- son , in March and April . I must not omit to tell you ( as you have been so lately on the study of ...
Page 80
... autumn ) to observe nicely when they leave him ( if they do leave him ) , and when they return again in the spring I was with this gentleman lately , and saw several single birds . LETTER XXI . Selborne , Nov. 28 , 1768 . DEAR SIR ...
... autumn ) to observe nicely when they leave him ( if they do leave him ) , and when they return again in the spring I was with this gentleman lately , and saw several single birds . LETTER XXI . Selborne , Nov. 28 , 1768 . DEAR SIR ...
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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 fieldfares fields flocks frequently frost garden Greatham ground Hanger hatched haunt hedges hirundines hirundo house-martins hundred inches insects late legs LETTER Linnæus manner martins mentioned migration morning Motacilla neighbour neighbourhood nest never night observed owls pair parish perhaps ponds prey procured quadrupeds Raii rain redwings remarkable remiges reptile 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 328 - 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 18 - In the midst of this spot stood, in old times, a vast oak, with a short squat body, and huge horizontal arms extending almost to the extremity of the area. This venerable tree, surrounded with stone steps and seats above them, was the delight of old and young, and a place of much resort in summer evenings ; where the former sat in grave debate, while the latter frolicked and danced before them.
Page 168 - 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 90 - 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 228 - 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 239 - ... worms seem to be the great promoters of vegetation, which would proceed but lamely without them, by boring, perforating, and loosening the soil, and rendering it pervious to rains and the fibres of plants, by drawing straws and stalks of leaves and twigs into it; and, most of all, by throwing up such infinite numbers of lumps of earth called wormcasts, which, being their excrement, is a fine manure for grain and grass.
Page 286 - 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 202 - Each species of hirundo drinks as it flies along, sipping the surface of the water ; but the swallow alone, in general, washes on the wing, by dropping into a pool for many times together : in very hot weather house-martins and bank-martins dip and wash a little..
Page 81 - I have reason to lament this want in my own country ; for such objects are very necessary ingredients in an elegant landscape.
Page 8 - Being of an unambitious temper, and strongly attached to the charms of rural scenery, he early fixed his residence in his native village, Till where he spent the greater part of his life in literary occupations, and especially in the study of Nature. This he followed with patient assiduity, and a mind ever open to the lessons of piety and benevolence, which such a study is so well calculated to afford. Though several occasions offered of settling upon a college living, he could never persuade himself...