ADVEETISEMENT. 



THE advertisement to the 8vo Edition of Selborne, published in 

 1802, edited by John White, the brother of the author, will best explain 

 the manner in which the Calendar and Observations came to be printed. 



" The favourable reception with which the works on natural history of 

 my late respected relation, the Rev. Gilbert White of Selborne, have 

 been honoured by the persons best qualified to judge of their merit, 

 has induced me to present them to the public in a collected and 

 commodious form, free from tho encumbrance of any extraneous 

 matter. His largest work, entitled ' The Natural History of Selborne,' 

 has probably been supposed by many to be formed upon a more local 

 and confined plan than it really is. In fact, the greater part of the 

 observations are applicable to all that portion of the island in which he 

 resided, and were indeed made in various places. Almost the only 

 matter absolutely local is the account of the antiquities of the village 

 of Selborne ; and this seemed to stand so much apart, that, however 

 well calculated to gratify the lovers of topographical studies, it was 

 thought that its entire omission would be considered no loss to the 

 work, considered as a publication on natural history. Its place is 

 occupied by the ' Naturalists' Calendar, and Miscellaneous Observations.' 

 which appeared in a separate volume since the author's decease, 

 extracted from his papers by Dr. Aitkin. That gentleman has also 

 made some farther selections from the papers, which are now all in my 

 possession ; and has undertaken the revision and arrangement of the 

 whole. A very valuable addition to the calendar and observations has 

 been obtained from the kindness of William Markwick, Esq., F.L.S., 

 well known as an accurate observer of nature, whose parallel calendar, 

 kept in the county of Sussex, is given upon the opposite columns. 



" The Editor flatters himself that the publication in its present form 

 will prove an acceptable addition to the library of the naturalist ; and 

 will in particular, be useful in inspiring young persons, and those who 

 pass their time in retirement, with a taste for the very pleasing branch 

 of knowledge on which it treats. 



"J. W. 



"FLEET STREET, 1802." 



