Short Chapters on Natural History. [With Illustrations.]1871 |
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Page 58
... and leeches are mentioned by authors among the king- fisher's food . The strong wing - cases of the former are often found in the " castings " of indigestible matter voided from the bird's stomach in the 58 CHAPTERS ON BIRDS .
... and leeches are mentioned by authors among the king- fisher's food . The strong wing - cases of the former are often found in the " castings " of indigestible matter voided from the bird's stomach in the 58 CHAPTERS ON BIRDS .
Page 59
Short chapters. of indigestible matter voided from the bird's stomach in the neighbourhood of its nest , a habit which it has in common with all birds of prey . It is not a bird of passage , though we miss it on our inland waters in the ...
Short chapters. of indigestible matter voided from the bird's stomach in the neighbourhood of its nest , a habit which it has in common with all birds of prey . It is not a bird of passage , though we miss it on our inland waters in the ...
Page 87
... matters of business . So there is no wonder that rats are man's constant companions , if we look at the question from a " rat's " " rat's " point of view ; and if we look at it from the human side , and wonder that men don't get rid of ...
... matters of business . So there is no wonder that rats are man's constant companions , if we look at the question from a " rat's " " rat's " point of view ; and if we look at it from the human side , and wonder that men don't get rid of ...
Page 89
... matter , than they are . This may be true ; but , if so , it is but the " one virtue ' mid a thousand crimes , " and will weigh little against the heavy damages in the other scale , of which rats have been convicted . They may now and ...
... matter , than they are . This may be true ; but , if so , it is but the " one virtue ' mid a thousand crimes , " and will weigh little against the heavy damages in the other scale , of which rats have been convicted . They may now and ...
Page 111
... matter to describe smells and tastes , and I will not attempt it as regards the peculiar savour of our friend ; but there can be few persons now living who have not , some time or other , noticed an aromatic flavour in bread , which ...
... matter to describe smells and tastes , and I will not attempt it as regards the peculiar savour of our friend ; but there can be few persons now living who have not , some time or other , noticed an aromatic flavour in bread , which ...
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Common terms and phrases
animal antennæ ants beautiful bees body British Birds brood brown rat brutes called clever cockroach colour comb common consider creatures crickets cuckoo domestic plagues doubt earwig eggs eyes fancy pigeons favour feathered feed female field mouse fish fleas gnat ground grubs habits hatched heard hive hole honey house mouse Huber human insects instance keep kill kind kingfisher known larva larvæ lays legs live magpie martin ment mice migration Mosquito natural history naturalists nest never nightingale observed peculiar pigeon plumage probably propolis pupa pure white queen readers reason remarkable rock rock dove rock pigeon rooks royal cells sand-martin seen Selborne side sometimes song soon species sting stock dove swallow swarms tail tell tion torpid tree turtle dove wings winter wonder woodpecker workers Yarrell young cuckoo
Popular passages
Page 29 - Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.
Page 151 - Should I turn upon the true prince ? Why, thou knowest I am as valiant as Hercules ; but beware instinct ; the lion will not touch the true prince. Instinct is a great matter ; I was a coward on instinct. I shall think the better of myself and thee, during my life ; I, for a valiant lion, and thou for a true prince.
Page 30 - Soon, o'er thy sheltered nest. Thou'rt gone, the abyss of heaven Hath swallowed up thy form; yet, on my heart Deeply hath sunk the lesson thou hast given, And shall not soon depart. He who, from zone to zone, Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, 30 In the long way that I must tread alone Will lead my steps aright.
Page 120 - ... 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 96 - I procured this 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 closed, that there was no discovering to what part it belonged. It was so compact and well filled, that it would roll across the table without being discomposed, though it contained eight little mice that were naked and blind.
Page 204 - ... hive. Coolness being the great object, the whole is thickly plastered over with mud, and covered with boughs, while a branch is stuck in the ground at each end, to assist the bees in alighting. At first, we took these singular structures for ovens or hen-houses. The barbarous practice of destroying the swarms for their honey is unknown. When the hives are full, the clay is removed from the ends of the pipes, and the honey extracted with an iron hook ; those pieces of comb which contain young...
Page 90 - It was drawn up in consequence of a proposition made for the removal of the horse slaughter-house at Montfaucon, to a> greater distance from Paris, when one of the chief obstacles urged against such a removal, was the fear entertained of the dangerous consequences that might result to the neighbourhood, from suddenly depriving these voracious vermin of their * His traps, and instructions for using them, may be had at Osmond's, in Piccadilly. accustomed sustenance. The report goes on to...
Page 197 - He first divided a hive by a grate, which kept the two portions about three or four lines apart ; so that they could not come at each other, though scent would pass. In that part in which there was no queen, the bees were soon in great agitation ; and as they did not discover her where she was confined, in a short time they began to construct royal cells, which quieted them.
Page 14 - That sings so delicately clear, and make Conjecture of the plumage and the form ; So the sweet voice of Enid moved Geraint ; And made him like a man abroad at morn When first the liquid note beloved of men Comes flying over many a windy wave To Britain, and in April suddenly Breaks from a coppice gemm'd with green and red, And he suspends his converse with a friend, Or it may be the labour of his hands, To think or say, ' there is the nightingale ;' So fared it with Geraint, who thought and said,...
Page 28 - At a farm-house in this neighbourhood I procured several swifts, and by taking off two claws from the foot of twelve, I fixed upon them an indelible mark. The year following, their nesting places were examined in an evening, when they had retired to roost, and there I found several of the marked birds.