viii INTRODUCTION. 



natural history of his country, particularly by 

 Mr. Pennant, who was then engaged with his 

 British Zoology. At the present time, we find 

 his works extensively quoted, and many of his 

 observations borne out by more modern ex- 

 periments. The Fauna of Great Britain is 

 indebted to him for the first notice of the Great 

 Bat, vespertilio noctula, and for the discovery 

 and detailed history of the Harvest-mouse, 

 mm messoriuS) in addition to various remarks 

 on different productions, both animal and 

 vegetable, and the elucidation of many facts 

 regarding popular superstitions and abuses. 



In the last edition of his works, we have the 

 following biographical sketch of his life, per- 

 haps the only one extant : " Gilbert White 

 was the eldest son of John White of Selborne, 

 Esq., and of Anne, the daughter of Thomas 

 Holt, rector of Streatham in Surrey. He 

 was born at Selborne, on July 18, 1720, and 

 received his school education at Basingstoke, 

 under the Rev. Thomas Warton, vicar of that 

 place, and father of those two distinguished 

 literary characters, Dr. Joseph Warton, master 

 of Winchester school, and Mr. Thomas War- 



