xii PREFACE. 



by Lord Selborne in the same locality, which are described 

 in his lordship's paper. 



The Editor's especial thanks are due to his friend 

 Professor Newton for his kind contribution of many 

 very valuable notes and suggestions, the value of which 

 will be readily appreciated by all who are acquainted 

 with his extensive knowledge of every branch of natural 

 science, and particularly that which formed the favourite 

 pursuit of Gilbert White. 



Perhaps the most interesting addition which the 

 Editor is enabled to offer with especial reference to Gil- 

 bert White personally, consists of a large number of 

 original letters, which have been placed at his disposal 

 by different members of the family and by the repre- 

 sentatives of his other correspondents. In particular he 

 has to acknowledge his deep obligations to Algernon 

 Holt White, Esq., of Clements Hall, in Essex, the son of 

 Gilbert White's nephew, Thomas Holt White ; to the 

 late James Eield, Esq., who married the daughter of 

 another nephew, the Rev. Edmund White, vicar of the 

 adjoining parish of Newton Valence, and whose son, the 

 Rev. Edmund Field, of Lancing College, Sussex, has most 

 kindly followed up his father's liberality and assistance. 



Among the relics thus unreservedly committed to the 

 Editor's use are the long correspondence with Gilbert 

 White's brother, the Rev. John White, who was for a 

 considerable time the English chaplain at Gibraltar, and 

 afterwards vicar of Blackburn in Lancashire. He was a 

 correspondent of Linnaeus, six of his letters to whom 

 will, by the kind permission of the Council of the Lin- 





