OF SELBORNE 19 



hanging in all the fanciful shapes of frost-work. These 

 rugged gloomy scenes aifright 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 naturahst with their various botany, and 

 particularly with their 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 

 landrails 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 andindent- 

 ings, 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 ; yet 

 perfectly healthy and free from agues. 



The quantity of rain that falls on it is very considerable, 

 as may be supposed in so woody and mountainous a 

 district. As my experience in measuring the water is 

 but of short date, I am not qualified to give the mean 

 quantity.! 



* Ferns. 



t A very intelligent gentleman assures me (and he speaks from 

 upwards oJ forty years' experience) that the mean rain of any place 

 cannot be ascertained till a person has measured it for a very long 

 period. " If I had only measured the rain," says he, " for the four 

 first years, from 1740 to 1743, I should have said the mean rain at 

 Lyndon was 16i inches for the year ; if from 1740 to 1750, 18i 

 inches. The mean rain before 1763 was 20i ; from 1763 and since, 

 25i ; from 1770 to 1780, 26. If only 1773, 1774 and 1775 had been 

 measured, Lyndon mean rain would have been called 32 inches." 



