THE REV. JOHN WHITE. 39 



discovered and seen with your own eyes, and caught with 

 your own hands a curvicauda : but it seems strange that you 

 did not see eggs on the horse's hair. Perhaps the color of 

 the horse might prevent your seeing them. Horses of dark 

 color are quite discolor'd by them. I wish to know the nidus 

 of the great Tabanus also : it haunts, I know, watery, moor 

 places. The Sturnus coll. * can't be a Fringilla, since it has no 

 conic bill. All grass horses now in watery places have nils : 

 I am pleased to find that insect extends to your district. You 

 may see with your own eyes the parent deposit each single 

 Ggg. Your remark concerning the bivalve straps of the egg 

 is a good one. 



Oholderton lies again at my option f . 



LETTER XVIII. 



Selborne, Feb. 1, 1775. 

 Dear Brother, 



I HAVE been unusually dilatory in my answer to your last 

 letter ; and the reason was, tho' I was much vexed and disap- 

 pointed at your rebuff, which came so unexpectedly, yet I did 

 not know how to come to your assistance. Mr. Pinnock at the 

 same time mentioned a gent, of the law ; but that is a profes- 

 sion you do not seem to affect. 



Brother Ben says you must have as many plates as possible 

 in your Fauna ; for it is the fashion now " to look in picture- 

 books." Insects being the most laborious, and probably to 

 most readers the most uninteresting part of your work, I am 

 glad you have run thro' them. The birds and quadrupeds 

 will pass off smoothly. I am sorry you will not work up your 

 tour to Mogador into a pretty chapter ; it is the fashion now 

 to publish tours : besides, some account of the person, man- 

 ners, and mode of life of that monarch who at present sets all 

 naval powers at defiance, would take with many readers. The 



[This is the Accentor alpinus, or more property A. eollaris, <>f modem 

 ornithologists. — T. B.] 



t [The living of < 'holderton was twice declined by him. See memoir. 

 T. B.] 



