The Natural History of Selborne: With Observations on Various Parts of Nature; and the Naturalist's CalendarH. G. Bohn, 1854 - 416 pages |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 58
Page 41
... female was shot on the nest , which was of a slovenly loose form , and shallow , not being so deep as those of the greenfinch or linnet , and was placed against the large bough of an apple- tree , about ten feet from the ground . It was ...
... female was shot on the nest , which was of a slovenly loose form , and shallow , not being so deep as those of the greenfinch or linnet , and was placed against the large bough of an apple- tree , about ten feet from the ground . It was ...
Page 43
... females . There were many more congregated with them in the ruins of the barn in which they were taken ; but the rest escaped . They were brought to me in a tin powder canister , in which they had been kept for several days ; and on ...
... females . There were many more congregated with them in the ruins of the barn in which they were taken ; but the rest escaped . They were brought to me in a tin powder canister , in which they had been kept for several days ; and on ...
Page 44
... females . The fifth individual , a male , was exceedingly restless and savage from the first ; biting the females , and breaking his teeth against the wires of the cage in his attempts to escape from his place of con- finement . He ...
... females . The fifth individual , a male , was exceedingly restless and savage from the first ; biting the females , and breaking his teeth against the wires of the cage in his attempts to escape from his place of con- finement . He ...
Page 45
... female noctule , which were published in the Proceedings of that body for 1834 , These are less adapted to the general , than to the scientific , reader . It would seem probable , from the account given in the text of its manner of ...
... female noctule , which were published in the Proceedings of that body for 1834 , These are less adapted to the general , than to the scientific , reader . It would seem probable , from the account given in the text of its manner of ...
Page 46
... female with young , both of which I have preserved in brandy . From the colour , shape , size and manner of nesting , I make no doubt but that the species is nondescript . They are much smaller , and more slender , than the mus ...
... female with young , both of which I have preserved in brandy . From the colour , shape , size and manner of nesting , I make no doubt but that the species is nondescript . They are much smaller , and more slender , than the mus ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abound animal appear April April 14 April 22 autumn birds of passage breed brood cage called chaffinches cold colour common cuckoo curious DAINES BARRINGTON DEAR district dogs eggs feed feet female fieldfares fields flies flocks forest frequently frogs garden Gilbert White grass ground hatched haunt hedges hirundines hirundo house-martins inches insects July July 13 July 22 June June 11 June 22 June 9 late legs LETTER Linnæus male manner March March 26 MARKWICK mentioned migration mild morning Motacilla natural history naturalist nest never night observed perhaps prey quadrupeds rain remarkable rooks says season seems SELBORNE Sept showers sings snow soon species spring stone curlew suppose swallows swifts tail THOMAS PENNANT titmouse toad trees vast village warm weather WHITE wild wings winter woods wren young
Popular passages
Page 108 - Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? Or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? 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. She is hardened against her young ones, As though they were not hers; Her labour is in vain without fear; Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
Page 214 - ... anguish, and threatened with the loss of the use of the limb. Against this accident, to which they were continually liable, our provident forefathers always kept a shrew-ash at hand, which, when once medicated, would maintain its virtue for ever. A shrew-ash was made thus:* — Into the body of the tree, a deep hole was bored with an auger, and a poor devoted shrew-mouse was thrust in alive, and plugged in, no doubt, with several quaint incantations, long since forgotten.
Page 256 - ... ill or good luck; of the death of a near relation, or the approach of an absent lover. By being the constant companions of her solitary hours they naturally become the objects of her superstition.
Page 146 - 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 with a serrated claw...
Page 268 - Qualis spelunca subito commota columba, Cui domus et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis 215 Dat tecto ingentem, mox aere lapsa quieto Radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas : Sic Mnestheus, sic ipsa fuga secat ultima Pristis Aequora, sic illam fert impetus ipse volantem.
Page 225 - For, to say nothing of half the birds, and some quadrupeds which are almost entirely supported by them, 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 worm-casts, which, being their excrement, is a fine...
Page 143 - Faunists, as you observe, are too apt to acquiesce in bare descriptions, and a few synonyms: the reason is plain : because all that may be done at home in a man's study; but the investigation of the life and conversation of animals is a concern of much more trouble and difficulty, and is not to be attained but by the active and inquisitive, and by those that reside much in the country.
Page 19 - But when they arrived at the swelling, it jutted out so much in their way, and was so far beyond their grasp, that the most daring lads were awed, and acknowledged the undertaking to be too hazardous. So the ravens built on, nest upon nest, in perfect security, till the fatal day arrived in which the wood was to be levelled. It was in the month of February, when those birds usually sit.
Page 203 - ... day. These webs were not single filmy threads, floating in the air in all directions, but perfect flakes or rags ; some near an inch broad, and five or six long, which fell with a degree of velocity that showed they were considerably heavier than the atmosphere.
Page 256 - As one should suppose, from the burning atmosphere which they inhabit, they are a thirsty race, and show a great propensity for liquids, being found frequently drowned in pans of water, milk, broth, or the like. Whatever is moist they affect ; and therefore often gnaw holes in wet woollen stockings and aprons that are hung to the fire...