xiv PREFACE. 



strongly attached to the charms of rural scenery, he early 

 fixed his residence in his native village, where he spent the 

 greater part of his life in literary occupations, and especially 

 in the study of nature. This he followed with patient 

 assiduity, and a mind ever open to the lessons of piety and 

 benevolence which such a study is so well calculated to 

 afford. Though several occasions offered of settling upon 

 a college living, he could never persuade himself to quit 

 the beloved spot, which was, indeed, a peculiarly happy 

 situation for an observer. He was much esteemed by a 

 select society of intelligent and worthy friends, to whom he 

 paid occasional visits. Thus his days passed, tranquil and 

 serene, with scarcely any other vicissitudes than those of 

 the seasons, till they closed at a mature age on June 26, 

 1798." 



Gilbert White lived and died a bachelor, and it is to be 

 regretted that no portrait remains to preserve a record of 

 his personal appearance. 



His brother John, to whom frequent reference is made in 

 the succeeding pages, was at one time Vicar of Blackburn, 

 in Lancashire. He afterwards became resident at Gibraltar, 

 where he made large collections for a Natural History of the 

 place, from the unpublished manuscript of which an extract 

 is given at page 282. He is honourably mentioned by 

 Pennant in his " Literary Life," as having rendered him 

 material assistance in connection with the birds and fishes 

 of Gibraltar. 



Another brother, Thomas (to whose observations, made at 

 his house at South Lambeth, our author occasionally refers) , 

 was a wholesale ironmonger in London ; but quitting busi- 

 ness with an ample fortune ; devoted much of his time to 

 literary pursuits, especially on subjects connected with me- 

 teorology and natural history. He was a Fellow of the 

 Royal Society, and author of numerous essays which ap- 

 peared in the ' ' Gentleman's Magazine " between the years 

 1780 and 1790, under the signature of T. H. W. Among 

 these a series of articles on the trees of Great Britain are 

 particularly deserving of notice, for the extensive informa- 

 tion, good taste, and variety of reading which they display. 



