ADVERTISEMENT. 



THE advertisement to the Svo Edition of Selborne, published in 

 1802, edited by John White, the brother of the author, will best 

 explain the manner in which the Calendar and Observations came 

 to be printed. 



" The favourable reception with which the works on natural 

 history of my late respected relation, the Rev. Gilbert White of 

 Selborne, have been honoured by the persons best qualified to judge 

 of their merit, has induced me to present them to the public in a 

 collected and commodious form, free from the encumbrance of any 

 extraneous matter. His largest work, entitled ' The Natural 

 History of Selborne,' has probably been supposed by many to be 

 formed upon a more local and confined plan than it really is. In 

 fact, the greater part of the observations are applicable to all that 

 portion of the island in which he resided, and were indeed made in 

 various places. Almost the only matter absolutely local is the 

 account of the antiquities of the village of Selborne ; and this 

 seemed to stand so much apart, that, however well calculated to 

 gratify the lovers of topographical studies, it was thought that its 

 entire omission would be considered no loss to the work, considered 

 as a publication on natural history. Its place is occupied by the 

 ' Naturalists' Calendar, and Miscellaneous Observations/ which 

 appeared in a. separate, volume since the author's decease, extracted 

 from his papers by Dr. Aitkin. That gentleman has also made 

 some farther selections from the papers, which are now all in my 

 possession ; and has undertaken the revision and arrangement of the 

 whole. A very valuable addition to the calendar and observations 

 has been obtained from the kindness of William Markwick, Esq. 

 F.L.S., well known as an accurate observer of nature, whose, 

 parallel calendar, kept in the county of Sussex, is given upon the 

 opposite columns. 



"The editor flatters himself that the publication in its present 

 form will prove an acceptable addition to the library of the natural- 

 ist ; and will in particular, be useful in inspiring young persons, and 

 those who pass their time in retirement, with a taste for the very 

 pleasing branch of knowledge on which it treats. 



J W. 



"FLEET STREET, 1802." 



