NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 35 



[In obedience to y r repeated injunctions I have begun 

 to throw my thoughts into a little order, that I may reduce 

 them into the form of an annus historico-naturalis com- 

 prizing the nat. history of my native place. As I never 

 dreamed 'til very lately of composing any thing of this sort 

 for the public inspection, I enter on this business with 

 great diffidence, suspecting that my observations will be 

 deemed too minute and trifling. However, if I ever finish 

 it I shall submit it to y r better judgement.] 



My musical friend, at whose house I am now visiting, 

 has tried all the owls that are his near neighbours with a 

 pitch-pipe set at concert pitch, and finds they all hoot in 

 B flat. He will examine the nightingales next spring. 



[Smelts are caught in the bay of Gibraltar, and at the 

 back of the rock all the summer : several Catalans subsist 

 by taking y m - 



Pray what is the import of malm in the Swedish tongue ? 



My thanks are due for y r reference with regard to the 

 ancient Carteia ; and for y r enquiries after M r - More, the 

 Gent : who touched at Gibr. in order to ascertain the plants 

 of that rock. 



When does M r Pennant come to town ; and when do 

 y r concerns call you out of town ? I make these enquiries 

 on interested motives, because it would be a singular 

 satisfaction to me to meet you both together. This frost 

 much exceeds the last. Martin's therm r abroad is down 

 at 12 : 10 : and on the 12 th of Feb : even at 6 : just at day 

 break. My Thames-street Bro r (who is here) joins in 

 respects. 



I am with the greatest respect 



Y r obliged servant, 



Gil : White. 



I shall return home in a few days. 

 Redwings begin to perish : they 



are the first that suffer by severe weather.] 



