iy INTRODUCTION. 



porary naturalists, with whom Mr. White was in 

 frequent correspondence; and who soon perceived 

 that his abilities, as a careful observer of nature, 

 might be advantageously employed in researches 

 connected with the productions of his native 

 parish. The work consists of a series of letters 

 addressed to these gentlemen, written in a clear 

 and elegant, yet somewhat popular, style ; con- 

 taining very varied information upon most sub- 

 jects connected with the Natural History of the 

 age, and is rather the description of an extensive 

 district than of a particular spot or village. 



The present work was originally printed in 

 1789, four years previous to the author's decease, 

 in a quarto volume, containing, besides, an 

 Account of the Antiquities of Selborne. Copies 

 of the work becoming scarce and expensive, a 

 reprint was thought necessary, and, accordingly, 

 it again appeared in 1802, in two volumes octavo, 

 chiefly under the superintendence of Dr. Aiken, 

 and some of Mr. White's friends. It was again 

 reprinted in 1825. In the later editions, it was 

 thought unnecessary to include that part relative 

 to the Antiquities, and their place was supplied 

 by the Naturalist's Calendar, and Miscellaneous 

 Observations, which had originally been pub- 



