J. R LOWELL'S VERSES 275 



misleading, and has constantly puzzled those ad- 

 mirers of the Naturalist's graceful writings, who, 

 when on a pilgrimage to Selborne, never omit to 

 seek out the grave of Gilbert White. 



Among the many distinguished men who have 

 made the Selborne pilgrimage was the late James 

 Kussell Lowell, who happened to be staying in the 

 neighbourhood with Lord Selborne in 1880, when 

 he wrote the following verses for his host : — 



" To visit Selborne had been sweet 

 No matter what the rest might be ; 

 But some good genius led my feet 



Thither in such fit company, 

 As trebled all its charms for me. 



" With them to seek his headstone grey, 



The lover true of birds and trees. 

 Added strange sunshine to the day. 



My eye a scene familiar sees. 

 And Home ! is whispered by the breeze. 



" My English blood its right reclaims ; 

 In vain the sea its barrier rears ; 

 Our pride is fed by England's fame. 



Ours is her glorious length of years ; 

 Ours, too, her triumphs and her tears." 



The writer of this biography is doubly disqualified 

 from composing what is called an ''appreciation" 

 of Gilbert White's life and work ; because he happens 

 to be a relative, and because he is no naturalist. 

 Yet no person of ordinary intelligence can peruse 

 *The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne' 

 without forming some estimate of its author's 



