CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIS FAMILY. 97 



end of November, and does not breed in these parts, perhaps 

 not in the kingdom *. The pigeon that breeds in our woods 

 and hedge-rows, and cooes all the summer is the Palumbus f 

 or ring dove, the palumbes mentioned by Virgil in his eclogues: 

 " Nee tanien interea raucae tua cura palumbes." 



Your Un. Harry was with me towards the end of November. 

 As we were walking in the evening we saw just after sunset a 

 star of a moderate magnitude, just above the sun, which we 

 concluded must be Mercury. My Bro. was much pleased to 

 see what he thought to be that planet, as it was new to him ; 

 and I had never seen it before but once, and that was at 

 Lyndon in 1760. You may let me know if Mercury was 

 visible at that time. 



With the compliments and good wishes of the season I 

 conclude, 



Yr affectionate Uncle, 



GIL. WHITE. 



The following is Mr. Sheffield's account of a visit to Mr. (afterwards 

 Sir Joseph) Banks, sent to Gilbert White, and by hiru to Samuel Barker, 

 Dec. 21, 1772. Banks returned from his well-known voyage in 1771 

 with the large collections described, augmented by his voyage to Ice- 

 land in July 1772. 



" Dec. 2, 1772. 

 " My next scene of entertainment was in New Burlington 

 Street at Mr. Banks's. Indeed it was an invitation from this 

 gentleman that carried me to town. It would be absurd to 

 attempt a particular description of what I saw here ; it would 

 be attempting to describe within the compass of a letter what 

 can only be done in several folio volumes. His house is a 

 perfect museum; every room contains an inestimable treasure. 

 I passed almost a whole day here in the utmost astonishment, 



* [Columba cenas. This species has for several years bred at Selborne, 

 in the hollow of a large pollard ash, which had been for many years pre- 

 viously the haunt of owls. See note, Vol. I. pp. 96, 97. — T. B.] 



t \_Columba palumbus. — T. B.] 

 VOL II. H 



