The Natural History of SelborneHarper, 1842 - 335 pages |
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Page 29
... haunt for many sorts of wild fowls , which not only frequent it in the winter , but build their nests there in the summer , such as lapwings , snipes , wild ducks , and , as I have discovered within these few years , teals . Partridges ...
... haunt for many sorts of wild fowls , which not only frequent it in the winter , but build their nests there in the summer , such as lapwings , snipes , wild ducks , and , as I have discovered within these few years , teals . Partridges ...
Page 40
... haunt the thickets or glades of the Holt . At present the deer of the Holt are much thinned and reduced by the night - hunters , who perpetually * This prince was the inventor of mezzotinto . harass them , in spite of the efforts of ...
... haunt the thickets or glades of the Holt . At present the deer of the Holt are much thinned and reduced by the night - hunters , who perpetually * This prince was the inventor of mezzotinto . harass them , in spite of the efforts of ...
Page 48
... haunt his garden for more than a fortnight . I began to accuse this bird of making sad havoc among the buds of the cherries , gooseberries , and wall- fruit of all the neighbouring orchards . Upon opening its crop or craw , no buds were ...
... haunt his garden for more than a fortnight . I began to accuse this bird of making sad havoc among the buds of the cherries , gooseberries , and wall- fruit of all the neighbouring orchards . Upon opening its crop or craw , no buds were ...
Page 52
... common . Some birds , haunting with the missel - thrushes and feeding on the berries of the yew - tree , which answered to the description of the merula torquata , or RINGOUSEL , were lately seen in this neighbour . 52 NATURAL HISTORY.
... common . Some birds , haunting with the missel - thrushes and feeding on the berries of the yew - tree , which answered to the description of the merula torquata , or RINGOUSEL , were lately seen in this neighbour . 52 NATURAL HISTORY.
Page 64
... haunt only the most dry , open , upland fields and sheepwalks , far removed from water ; what they may do in the night I cannot say . Worms are their usual food , but they also eat toads and frogs . * On the 27th of February , 1788 ...
... haunt only the most dry , open , upland fields and sheepwalks , far removed from water ; what they may do in the night I cannot say . Worms are their usual food , but they also eat toads and frogs . * On the 27th of February , 1788 ...
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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...