THE 



NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE, 



LETTEE I* 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ. 



THE parish of Selborne lies in the extreme eastern corner of the county 

 of Hampshire, bordering on the county of Sussex, and not far from the 

 county of Surrey ; is about fifty miles south-west of London, in latitude 

 fifty-one, and near mid-way between the towns of Alton and Petersfield. 

 Being very large and extensive it abuts on twelve parishes, two of which 

 are in Sussex, vie., Trotton and Rogate. If you begin from the south 



* The first series of Mr. White's Letters are addressed to Pennant, and run 

 over a period of several years, during which that gentleman was engaged in 

 writing his British Zoology; whether they were originally commenced as real 

 letters between friends and naturalists, and were afterwards brought together for 

 publication we are unable to say. Some bear the stamp of replies to actual 

 letters, but when the idea of publication was fixed upon, it is probable that 

 others may have been introduced, and such, as this first one written as intro- 

 ductory to his parochial history. Mr. White tells us that they are published with 

 the view of "laying before the public his idea of a Parochial History, which he 

 thinks ought to consist of natural productions and occurrences as well as 

 antiquities." (See Advertisement.) It is from such materials and records as these 

 that the most complete County Histories might be drawn, axid he remarks that 

 such are still wanting in several parts of the kingdom. In 1853 the same 

 remark would continue to apply. The parish registers do not always go so far 

 back, and have not always at an early period been kept with that exactness which 

 White would have recommended, and it is often difficult to trace the origin of 

 some old custom or pastime, or the etymology of some of the apparently now 

 meaningless names of places, farms, or villages. Accordingly, in this his first 

 ' letter, he at once goes into the necessary, though to some the dry and more 

 tedious information, of the boundaries and situation of the parish ; some of its 

 statistics, produce, springs, with a slight sketch of its geology and physical 

 character. 



This is one of the few letters where the geology of the district is touched 

 upon, and in only one of the numerous editions has this been explained ; 

 Mr. Bennet is the only editor who seems to have examined it for himself 

 and to him, as others have done we must apply for information. This is 

 necessary, as upon the explanation depends the proper understanding of several 



