OF SELBORNE. 



123 



penter of this village ; this was the but-, 

 end of a small oak, about five feet long, and 

 about five inches in diameter. It had ap- 

 parently been severed from the ground by 

 am axe, w^as very ponderous, and as black 

 as ebony. Upon asking the carpenter for 

 vv^hat purpose he had procured it, he told 

 me that it was to be sent to his brother, 

 a joiner at Farnham, w^ho was to make use 

 of it in cabinet work, by inlaying it along 

 with whiter woods. 



Those that are much abroad on evenings 

 after it is dark, in Spring and Summer, fre- 

 quently hear a nocturnal bird passing by 

 on the wing, and repeating often a short 

 quick note. This bird I have remarked 

 myself, but never could make out till 

 lately. I am assured now that it is the 

 Stone-curlew( charadrius oedicnemus ), Some 

 of them pass over or near my house almost 

 every evening after it is dark, from the up- 

 lands of the hill and North Jield, away 

 down towards Dorton ; where, among the 

 streams and meadows, they find a greater 

 plenty of food. Birds that fly by night are 



