1NTR ODUCTOR Y OBSER VA TIOXS. x v 



published." But although every inquiry has been made, both 

 by ourselves and others, no trace of that MS. can be discovered. 

 His residence at Gibraltar is referred to in his brother's letters 

 upon migration ; and he corresponded during his residence 

 abroad with Mr. Pennant, who, when writing of the contents 

 of his projected work, the " Outlines of the Globe," states that 

 Volume V. would be particularly rich in drawings of the 

 "birds and fishes of Gibraltar communicated to me by the 

 Reverend the late Mr. John White, long resident in that 

 fortress."* 



John White corresponded also with naturalists abroad, and 

 among others with Linnaeus. Four letters from Linnaeus 

 were discovered a few years since, and were published in 

 "Contributions to Ornithology" for 1849. They were ad- 

 dressed to him while resident at Gibraltar, and showed that 

 his assistance was highly valued. In thanking him for some 

 collections and memoranda, Linnaeus writes, " Accepi et dona 

 vere aurea pro quibus omnibus ac singulis grates immortales 

 reddo, reddamq. dum vixero." He was the means also of pro- 

 curing for Linnaeus, who had not before seen them, two birds, 

 which his brother mentions in his letters, Hirundo (cypselus) 

 melba and rupestris, " quam antea non vidi ; " " mihi antea 

 ignota." Another brother, Thomas, after retiring from 

 business, devoted much of his time to literary pursuits and 

 natural history, and for ten years contributed articles to the 

 " Gentleman's Magazine," under the signature of T. H. W. A 

 third, Benjamin White, was a publisher, and his name stands 

 on the title-page of the first edition of "Selborne." There 

 appears also to have been a fourth brother, Harry White. % 



* Lit. Life, page 42. 



+ "Contributions to Ornithology, "by Sir William Jardine, Bart., 1849, pp. 27, 31, 40. 



J Preface to Benn.tt's Editi n, pp xii., xiii. 



