The Natural History of Selborne: With Observations on Various Parts of Nature; and the Naturalist's Calendar |
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Page 14
... leaves , as they first burst forth in the spring , and its glowing russet foliage in the autumn , and then look at its silvery bark , and bold projecting roots , both here and there covered with verdant mosses , it is impossible not to ...
... leaves , as they first burst forth in the spring , and its glowing russet foliage in the autumn , and then look at its silvery bark , and bold projecting roots , both here and there covered with verdant mosses , it is impossible not to ...
Page 37
... leave the nest for the spout or the roof of the house . They took a short flight across the court , but were too weak to depart when the rest of these birds are supposed to quit our Island . Having taken great interest in watching these ...
... leave the nest for the spout or the roof of the house . They took a short flight across the court , but were too weak to depart when the rest of these birds are supposed to quit our Island . Having taken great interest in watching these ...
Page 38
... leave us before the middle of August invariably ! while the latter stay often till the middle of October ; and once I saw numbers of house - martins on the 7th of Novem- ber . * The martins and red - wing fieldfares were flying in sight ...
... leave us before the middle of August invariably ! while the latter stay often till the middle of October ; and once I saw numbers of house - martins on the 7th of Novem- ber . * The martins and red - wing fieldfares were flying in sight ...
Page 49
... leave the nest , have often occasion to make the great migration , and that the various species of hirundines remain in their nests till they are more completely feathered than other birds . Thus when they come forth , they are matured ...
... leave the nest , have often occasion to make the great migration , and that the various species of hirundines remain in their nests till they are more completely feathered than other birds . Thus when they come forth , they are matured ...
Page 51
... leave this country in the winter . In January , 1767 , I saw several dozens of them , in the midst of a severe frost , among the bushes on the downs near Andover : in our woodland enclosed districts it is a rare bird . † * Cock ...
... leave this country in the winter . In January , 1767 , I saw several dozens of them , in the midst of a severe frost , among the bushes on the downs near Andover : in our woodland enclosed districts it is a rare bird . † * Cock ...
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The Natural History of Selborne: Observations on Various Parts of Nature ... Gilbert White No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
abound animal appear April April 14 April 22 autumn birds of passage birds of prey breed brood cage called chaffinches cold colour common cuckoo curious DAINES BARRINGTON DEAR district dogs eggs feed feet female fieldfares flies flocks forest frequently garden Gilbert White grass ground haunt hedges hirundines hirundo house-martins inches Indian antelope insects July June June 17 late legs LETTER Linnĉus male manner March March 17 March 26 MARKWICK mentioned migration mild morning natural history naturalist neighbourhood nest never night observed owls perhaps prey quadrupeds rain remarkable rooks says season seems seen SELBORNE showers sings snow soon species spring stone curlew suppose Sussex swallows swifts tail THOMAS PENNANT titmouse torpid trees vast village warm weather White wild wings winter Wolmer woods wren young
Popular passages
Page 300 - 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 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 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 166 - Thus careful workmen when they build mud walls (informed at first perhaps by this little bird) raise but a moderate layer at a time, and then desist ; lest the work should become top-heavy, and so be ruined by its own weight. By this method in about ten or twelve days is formed an hemispheric nest with a small aperture towards the top, strong, compact, and warm ; and perfectly fitted for all the purposes for which it was intended.
Page 150 - ... a loaded cart, yet does it discover as much solicitude about rain as a lady dressed in all her best attire, shuffling away on the first sprinklings, and running its head up in a corner. If attended to, it becomes an excellent weather-glass ; for as sure as it walks elate, and as it were on tiptoe, feeding with great earnestness in a morning, so sure will it rain before night.
Page 136 - MILTO:;. but scout and hurry along in little detached parties of six or seven in a company ; and, sweeping low, just over the surface of the land and water, direct their course to the opposite continent at the narrowest passage they can find.
Page 225 - Earthworms, though in appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of Nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm.
Page 171 - Though I have now travelled the Sussex Downs upwards of thirty years, yet I still investigate that chain of majestic mountains with fresh admiration year by year; and I think I see new beauties every time I traverse it.
Page 157 - ... down in the grass or corn. I have minuted these birds with my watch for an hour together, and have found that they return to their nest, the one or the other of them, about once in five minutes...