30 GILBEET WHITE OF SELBOENE 1778 



breeches, and to have candles constantly burning in their 

 dormitory. Should I ever be able to finish my work 

 respecting this nfy native place, the old deeds and charters, 

 &c. will furnish a long appendix. 



Your affectionate friend, 



Gil. White. 



Towards the end of September the annual visit 

 was made to Mrs. Snooke at Kingmer, where 

 Timothy, the tortoise, was noticed, and, as usual, 

 weighed. Eeturning by Findon and Chilgrove, 

 the Naturalist's Journal records — 



" Oct. 8. [Findon.] Not one wheatear to be seen on all 

 the downs. Swallows abound between Brighthelmstone and 

 Beeding. Wot one ring-ouzel to be seen on the downs either 

 coming or going. 



" [Oct.] 9. [Chilgrove.] Many martins near Houghton- 

 bridge. Some swallows all the way." 



On arriving at Selborne, the Naturalist's Journal 

 records a sight which tells indeed of the difference 

 which modern farming and game preserving have 

 caused in wild-bird life. 



"Oct. 13. Near 40 ravens have been playing about over 

 the hanger all day." 



On October 15th Mulso wrote that he was unable 

 to accept an invitation to Selborne, though passing 

 through Alton to Farnham Castle. 



" I looked up towards your hills as I passed them with a 

 longing eye, and I passed on without the unfeelingness of the 

 Levite. ... I hope your excursion has been of service to 

 you, and that you can sleep without dreaming of the French. 

 Mrs. Snooke is not so fainthearted, or she would not hold so 



