INTRODUCTION xxiii 



work I have quoted some of the excellent notes from the 

 editions of Sir William Jardine, Professor Bell, Mr. ]. 

 Edmund Harting, Mr. Grant Allen, &c., all of which I 

 have duly acknowledged. 



R. BOWDLER SHARPE. 



CHISWICK, December 5, 1899. 



P.S. Since the above was written Professor Newton's 

 account of Gilbert White's life has appeared in the " Dic- 

 tionary of National Biography." Knowing by personal 

 experience the difficulty which surrounds any attempt at 

 rendering an exact history of Gilbert White, I am more 

 than delighted at the wonderful manner in which Professor 

 Newton has performed his labour of love. In my opinion, 

 this is one of the most wonderful histories of a naturalist 

 ever compiled, and Gilbert White has indeed been fortunate 

 in his Biographer. R. B. S. 



NOTE 



The initials appended to the footnotes are to be read as 

 follows : 



G. W. Gilbert White's original notes. 



R. B. S. R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor. 



G. A. B. G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S. British Museum. 



W. J. Sir William Jardine, Bart. 



H. M. Henry Maxwell, Esq. 



R. I. P. Reginald Innes Pocock, British Museum. 



W. E. de W. W. E. de Winton, F.Z.S. British Museum. 



