Notice of British Naturalists. 155 
but of course in the more intricate subjects we can scarcely ex- 
pect to find him perfect. The plates are numerous, and executed 
with great fidelity. Those of the Testacea have seldom been 
surpassed. From his life we may learn that the busiest station 
does not preclude attention to this study ; and while it relieves 
and graces narrow. circumstances, it adds increased lustre and 
honor to the highest stations. 
The British Conchologists of this period were Emanvet Men- 
Drs DA Cosra, who published at London, in 1778, a very beauti- 
fully executed quarto volume under the title of ‘ Historia natu- 
ralis Testaceorum Britannia ; or the British Conchology, con- 
laining the descriptions, and other particulars of the Natural 
History of Great Britain and Ireland? The plates are very 
faithful, and are colored. The text is both in French and Eng- 
ish. His system was peculiar to himself, and has never been 
adopted. It was in conformity to a system which he had pro- 
Posed shortly before in a thin octavo volume, called ‘ Elements of 
Conchology.’? His work is still often referred to for the plates. 
The other writer, who is less generally known, is WALKER, 
who published a volume in 1784, on the intricate subject of the 
Minute British Shells. ‘ T'estacea minuta rariora.’ 
Ten years before Pennant’s death, in 1788, appears the first 
edition of Rev. Gisert Wurte’s ‘ Natural History and Antiqui- 
ties of Selborne;’ a work which ever has been, and ever will be, 
tead with pleasure. Born in 1720, at Selborne, a little country 
Village, the surrounding scenery diversified with hills and woods, 
he passed through the ordinary routine of education ; and in due 
time became a Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford ; and one of the 
Senior Proctors of the Univerity. “Being of an unambitious 
temper, and strongly attached to the charms of rural scenery, he 
early fixed his residence in his native village, where he spent the 
steater part of his life in literary occupation, and especially of the 
‘tudy of Nature. This he followed with patient assiduity, and a 
mind ever open to the lessons of piety and benevolence which such 
4 study is so well calculated to afford. ‘Though several oceasions 
Offered of settling upon a college living, he could never persuade 
self to quit his beloved spot, which was indeed a peculiarly 
happy Situation for an observer. He was much esteemed bya 
Select society of intelligent and worthy friends, to whom he paid 
