INTRODUCTION. V 



lished in a small volume after the author's death. 

 These, with some papers on different subjects 

 connected with natural history, and published in 

 various Transactions of learned societies, with 

 some Poems, which were most probably written 

 for amusement, and without any intention of 

 publication, are all his writings that have ever 

 been printed. 



As a naturalist, Mr. White ranked very high ; 

 and we consequently find him in correspondence 

 with many of the most eminent scientific cha- 

 racters of that period, and often consulted on 

 subjects connected with the natural history of 

 his county, particularly by Mr. Pennant, who 

 was then engaged with his British Zoology. At 

 the present time we find his works extensively 

 quoted, and many of his observations borne out 

 by more modern experiments. The Fauna of 

 Great Britain is indebted to him for the first 

 notice of the Great Bat, (vespertilio noctula,) and 

 for the discovery and detailed history of the 

 Harvest Mouse (mus messorius), in addition to 

 various remarks on different productions, both 

 animal and vegetable, and the elucidation of 

 many facts regarding popular superstitions and 

 abuses. 



