VIII PREFACE. 



In White's time the Bridgewater Treatises were represented 

 by the writings of Dr. Derham, author of " Physico-Theology," l 

 the fifth edition of which was published in 1720, the year 

 White was born. 



I have discovered that White had not only deeply studied 

 Derham and also Ray, 2 but in many cases he illustrates Derham's 

 arguments by his own observations. 



White was a true student of all created things lynx-eyed, 

 ([iiick to observe accurately, and patient to interpret the mean- 

 ing of facts brought under his notice. The same facts that 

 White saw and recorded are still going on around us at the 

 present time. The birds come and go at the same dates as did 

 their ancestors a century ago. The rabbits, hedgehogs, rats, 

 bats, snakes, mice, &c., still keep up their old, old customs 

 unaltered and unchanged. White is the teacher who has shown 

 four generations how and what to observe in fact, he taught 

 them the " Art of Observation." For the above reason, there- 

 fore, White's " Selborne " has held its own as a standard book 

 for a hundred years, and will probably be as fresh as ever a 

 hundred years hence. 



We live in a beautiful and happy world ; the waters teem 

 with life, the earth is populated by creatures innumerable ; some 

 live on the mountains, some on the plains, some in the forest, 

 some in the desert ; to observe the habits of all living things 



1 "Physico-Theology ;or, A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of 

 God from His Works of Creation ; being the Substance of Sixteen Sermons 

 preached in St. Mary-le-Bow Church, London, at the Honourable Mr. Boyle's 

 Lectures, in the years 1711 and 1712. With Large Notes and many Curious 

 < >bservations." By W. Derham, Canon of Windsor, Rector of Upminster in 

 Essex, and F.R.S. I have four editions of this work, 1720, 1727, 1732, 

 ;ind 1768. This book is well worthy of a modern edition. 



- " The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation ; in Two 

 Parts," and "Discourses on Physico-Theology, 1713." By John Ray, late 

 Fellow of the Royal Society, 1743. 



