204 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORlSrE 1771 



from his discoveries during his circumnavigation. My 

 respects also wait on Mr. Barrington, and thanks for his 

 letter from Beaumaris. 



After returning you my acknowledgments for your 

 present of the curious old Bondeletiiis de jpiscilms* I remain 

 With great esteem 



Your much obliged, and 



Humble Servant, 



Gil. White. 



After entertaining some friends in tlie summer at 



Selborne, the usual autumn visit to Eingmer was 



made. The Naturalist's Journal of November 1st 



records that — 



"Mrs. Snooke's tortoise began to dig in order to hide 

 himself for the winter." 



That swallows, as well as tortoises, might perhaps 

 hide themselves during the winter season remained, 

 as successive entries in his Naturalist's Journal 

 distinctly show, a favourite speculation of Gilbert 

 White's till the end of his life. At this time he 

 notes — 



"Nov. 4th. Saw three swallows flying briskly at New- 

 haven at the mouth of the Lewes river." 



On his journey home by way of Chilgrove — 



" Nov. 13. Saw 16 forktailed kites at once on the downs." 



In November, 1771, John Mulso, who had recently 

 become Canon of Winchester, received the rectory 

 of Meonstoke from his uncle, now Bishop of Win- 

 chester, giving up the living of Witney ; so that he 



• There are several editions of Rondelet's work on Fishes, the first pub- 

 lished at Lyons in 1554. — A.N. 



