THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 

 SELBORNE 



LETTER I 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQUIRE 



THE parish of Selborne lies in the extreme eastern corner 

 of the county of Hampshire, bordering on the county of 

 Sussex, and not far from the county of Surrey ; is about 

 fifty miles south-west of London, in latitude 51, and near 

 midway between the towns of Alton and Petersfield. 

 Being very large and extensive it abuts on twelve parishes, 

 two of which are in Sussex, viz. Trotton and Rogate. If 

 you begin from the south and proceed westward the 

 adjacent parishes are Emshot, Newton Valence, Faringdon, 

 Harteley Mauduit, Great Ward le ham, Kingsley, Hed- 

 leigh, Bramshot, Trotton, Rogate, Lysse, and Greatham. 

 The soils of this district are almost as various and diversified 

 as the views and aspects. The high part to the south-west 

 consists of a vast hill of chalk, rising three hundred feet 

 above the village ; and is divided into a sheep down, the 

 high wood, and a long hanging wood called The Hanger. 

 The covert of this eminence is altogether beech, the most 

 lovely of all forest trees, whether we consider its smooth 

 rind or bark, its glossy foliage, or graceful pendulous 

 boughs. The down, or sheep-walk, is a pleasing park-like 

 spot, of about one mile by half that space, jutting out on 

 the verge of the hill-country, where it begins to break 

 down into the plains, and commanding a very engaging 



