relative to the Habits of Animals. 17 



creature ; and, fortunately for us, the naturalists of the day 

 to whom he communicated the results of his labours, valued his 

 letters as they deserved. Actuated by the same spirit, Wilson 

 sought the savannahs, the swamps, and the forests of America, 

 while Le Vaillaiit penetrated into the deserts of Africa. The 

 former, inspired by the same muse who shed a grace over the 

 narrative of White, has left, in the sweetness of his style, and in 

 the accuracy of his details, a monument which increases the grief 

 always felt at the premature death of a man of genius. The 

 latter, full of years, is gone to " that undiscovered country from 

 whose bourne no traveller returns," leaving to posterity a legacy, 

 which, while it insures their lasting gratitude, gives to him an 

 imperishable name. These men did not content themselves with 

 fireside speculations ; they did not conceive that an acquaintance 

 with the treasures of museums would alone enable them to enter 

 the adytum of the temple of nature : No, they sought the goddess 

 in her own woods, and were rewarded with such revelations as no 

 other mode of devotion could have elicited from her. Ask the 

 Zoologist of the present day to whom, of the last generation, he 

 owes the progress which he is making in science, and he will say, 

 without undervaluing the labours of authors of systems, that 

 writers such as these were the spirits who have rendered the veil 

 less impenetrable, " quique siii memores alios fecere merendo." 

 After the mention of these great names, it may appear pre- 

 sumption in me to venture to contribute any thing in addition io 

 that which one of them has recorded : but, in the hope that others 

 may be induced to throw such observations as they have made 

 into the common stock, I, without further apology, proceed to 

 call the attention of the reader to two letters of Mr. White, 

 forming a part of his " Natural History of Selborne," and to give 

 the additional information which chance or the kindness of friends 

 has thrown in my way. 



In a letter to Pennant, dated " Selborne, 22d Feb. 1770," will 

 be found the following extract. 



" Hedge-hogs abound in my gardens and fields. The manner in 

 which they eat the roots of the plantain in my grass-walk is very curious. 

 Vol. ir. B . 



