34 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1742-3 



Writing to liim many years after this time, the 

 Rev. John Mulso — his contemporary at Oriel and 

 lifelong intimate friend — says : — 



" I do not ever remember your shooting a snipe at Oxford 

 in summer, where there used to be plenty in winter : at that 

 time you used to practise with your gun in summer to 

 steady your hand for winter, and inhospitably fetch down 

 our visitants the birds of passage." 



During the long vacation of 1742, a three months' 

 visit was paid to his relations at Whitwell Rectory, 

 Rutland. Time passed, and on June 13th, 1743, 

 we find him taking out a **liceat for examination," 

 of course for his B.A. degree. 



This examination in those days, and long after- 

 wards, was not quite so elaborate as it now is. In 

 those fortunate times Gilbert White would have 

 appeared before two Masters of Arts of his own 

 college, and suffered at their hands but a very briel 

 examination, which, if not entirely, was probably 

 chiefly oral. On June 17th he is able to make the 

 entry in his pocket-book : — i 



" For a Testamur and ringing the Bells 



for examination . . . 1^ 6*^" 



and on the same day he writes his name in thi 

 Vice-Chancellor's book (and pays a shilling). On 

 June 22nd occurs this entry : — 



" Proctor's men and major . . 1^ 6^ " 



University men may perhaps recollect occasions 01 

 which their payments to the Proctor were not of 



