OF SELBORNE. 17 



frozen into icicles, hanging in all the fanciful shapes of 

 frost-work. These rugged- gloomy scenes affright the 

 ladies when they peep down into them from the paths 

 above, and make timid horsemen shudder while they 

 ride along them ; but delight the naturalist with their 

 various botany, and particularly with the curious 

 Filices with which they abound. 



The manor of Selborne, was it strictly looked after, 

 with all its kindly aspects, and all its sloping coverts, 

 would swarm with game ; even now, hares, partridges, 

 and pheasants abound ; and in old days woodcocks 

 were as plentiful. There are few quails, because they 

 more affect open fields than enclosures: after harvest 

 some few land-rails are seen. 



The parish of Selborne, by taking in so much of the 

 forest, is a vast district. Those who tread the bounds 

 are employed part of three days in the business, and 

 are of opinion that the outline, in all its curves and 

 indentings, does not comprise less than thirty miles. 



The village stands in a sheltered spot, secured by 

 The Hanger from the strong westerly winds. The air 

 is soft, but rather moist from the effluvia of so many 

 trees 1 ; yet perfectly healthy, and free from agues. 



The quantity of rain that falls on it is very consi- 

 derable, as may be supposed in so woody and moun- 

 tainous a district. As my experience in measuring 

 the water is but of short date, I am not qualified to 

 give the mean quantity 2 . I only know that 



Inch. Hand. 



From May 1, 1779, to the end of the year, there fell 28 37 ! 



From Jan. 1, 1780, to Jan. 1, 1781 27 32 



From Jan. 1, 1781, to Jan. 1, 1782 30 71 



From Jan. 1, 1782, to Jan. 1, 1783 50 26! 



1 This effect of trees is fully treated of in the Letter to Daines Barring- 

 ton, numbered XXIX. E. T. B. 



2 A very intelligent gentleman* assures me (and he speaks from up- 

 wards of forty years experience) that the mean rain of any place cannot 



* Thomas Barker, the gentleman referred to in the note, was the 

 descendant of an ancient and respectable family in the county of Rutland. 



C 



