244 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1774 



melba extended up into Spain, and whether the Hirundo 

 rupestris was seen in summer in the internal parts. 



Mr. B. shewed me and Jack the curiosities of the R.S. ; 

 there was a stuffer packing and preparing the productions of 

 N. America for the use of the King of Spain. « 



Pray write soon. 



During March, 1774, Gilbert White visited his 

 brothers in London. On his return he wrote — 



To the Rev. John White. 



Selborne, March 29, 1774. 



Dear Brother, — The long-contested drawings are lodged in 

 Thames-street in order to be sent down to you. I wish they 

 had been better executed, and the owner* had behaved more 

 like a Gentleman on the occasion. He showed me a letter, 

 which he intended to send you: and as Benjamin and he 

 have literary connections, I hope you will forget, and for- 

 give. They always quarrel and squabble by letter, but 

 accord well when they meet. 



You do well to send Linn, your most curious specimens : 

 and not only your most curious ones, but also such common 

 ones as by the circumstances of his country he seems to be 

 unacquainted with. He will, I trust, act with candor; and 

 give you the best information he can concerning your non- 

 descripts. No doubt when he sees the PrcUincola he will, 

 remove it from the Hirundines.f 



As to my letters they lie in my cupboard very snug. If 



* Pennant. The remark is severe, but Gilbert White's letter of 1st August, 

 1770, shows that when he first sent some specimens from Gibraltar to Pennant, 

 he had distinctly intimated that he should expect to see the drawings, if 

 Pennant had any made by his artist. 



t The copy of the twelfth edition of the ' Systema Naturte,' annotated 

 by Linnaeus himself, and now in the possession of the Linnean Society oi 

 London, shows that he would have done so had he brought out another 

 edition. He had also marked his account of the species **J. White" by way 

 of memorandum. — A. N. 



