PKEFACE. 



;F any apology be deemed necessary for the 

 appearance of a new edition of one of the 

 most delightful books in the English lan- 

 guage, the reader need only be reminded of 

 the physical changes which have taken place 

 since Gilbert White's day in the district of which he wrote, 

 and of the vast additions which are daily being made to 

 our knowledge in almost every branch of natural history. 



Wolmer Forest, which eighty years ago was et without one 

 standing tree in the whole extent" (p. 18), is now partly 

 enclosed, and planted to the extent of several hundred acres 

 with oak, larch, and Scotch fir. Bin's Pond, a " consider- 

 able lake/' which at one time " afforded a safe and pleasing 

 shelter to wild ducks, teals, and snipe'' (p. 26), has long 

 since been drained, and cattle now graze on its bed. The 

 covert in which foxes and pheasants formerly abounded 

 (p. 27) has almost entirely disappeared. 



The village church at various times having undergone 

 repairs, has sustained in consequence considerable altera- 

 tion. Ancient tombs have disappeared (p. 413), and the 

 interior of the edifice has been entirely remodelled. 



The curious bridge at Oakhanger, " of considerable anti- 

 quity and peculiar shape " (p. 504) , has given place to a more 

 modern structure of greater convenience though of less 

 interest, while of the ancient manor-house, called Temple, 

 "with its massive thick walls and narrow windows" (p. 

 439), not a vestige now remains. 



No less remarkable are the changes which ha ye taken 



