322 GILBERT WHITE OF SELBORNE 1776 



To Samuel Barker, 



Selborne, July 1, 1776. 



Dear Sir, — In the larger plants in general I found no 

 difficulty at all, being assisted by Linn., Hudson, Bay's 

 ' Synopsis stirpium,' &c. ; but as to the mosses, I did not 

 care to meddle, because they were become too minute for 

 my eyes, before they began to be employed in those enquiries. 

 As to the genera of Orchis, Ophrys and Serapias, there is 

 great obscurity among them, as Linn, tacitly acknowledges 

 by calling in the distinction of their roots in his specific 

 descriptions. In his system the distinctions should lie in 

 the corolla, stalks, leaves. As to the different sorts of 

 garden-fruits, they are the production of cultivation; and 

 belong only incidentally to the Linn, system ; but are to be 

 sought for in * Miller's Dictionary ' &c. 



As to the Nymphcea alba, the white water-lily, there are 

 none in this parish : but are to be found in Wish-hanger 

 pond in the parish of Frinsham : if I knew when the seeds 

 were ripe, I would endeavour to procure some. 



Dr. Forster assured me that he saw, some few times, 

 appearances in the sky in the S. hemisphere very similar to 

 those we call aurorce horeales. 



Our Jirst young brood of swallows was marvellously early, 

 appearing on June 15th : the first week in July is the usual 

 time. I have written to Grimm, and don't know but that 

 I may see him next Monday. I expect also my nephew 

 Richard White, who is to stay with me some time. Nanny 

 Woods dines with me to-day: she is tender, and has got 

 a cough. 



We have built a new Hermitage, a plain cot : but it has 

 none of the fancy, and rude ornament that recommended the 

 former to people of taste : this is strong and substantial, and 

 will stand a long while, fire excepted. Our solstice is cool, 

 and shady, but not very wet : I have ricked my S*foin in fine 



